> France is not a two party theater and suffers from the same thing.

France was for a long time until recently though, the current situation is the exception.

When?

In 2012, when the top two candidates have ~50% of the votes & four candidates total are above 10%?

In 2007, when the top two candidates have ~50% of the votes & four candidates total are above 10% (note: note the same parties)?

In 2002, when the top two candidates have ~35% of the votes and the loss of the leading left wing candidate was blamed on too many different left wing parties fielding candidates and getting votes?

In 2002, when the top two candidates have ~45% of the votes & four candidates total are above 10%?

Same thing for 1995, 1988, 1981.

In the last US presidential election, the top two candidates got a combined 98.17% of votes. The next candidate got 1.18%. This is a completely different situation.

Apart from 2002 and 2017, all the elections have been the incarnation at that time of the PS vs the incarnation at that time of the UMP.