A tight race is expected in the runoff election for the French presidency on Sunday. The TV duel could get things moving again in the election campaign.
France’s liberal head of state Emmanuel Macron has his right-wing adversary Marine The pen accused of making himself dependent on Russia. “They depend on Russian power and they depend on Mr Putin “They don’t talk to other leaders, they talk to their banker when they talk about Russia,” Macron said at Le Pen’s head.
Macron is referring to a loan that Le Pen took out in 2014 from a Czech-Russian bank. She defended herself by pointing out that French banks would not authorize her such financial assistance. “Don’t you think that’s scandalous?” Le Pen replied, speaking of the banks’ democratic deficit. Le Pen also said: “I am an absolutely and totally free woman.” Macron accused her of preventing her party from obtaining a loan in France when she was a minister in 2015. Macron replied that nobody intervened at the time. He was also Minister of Economics, banks were not part of his area of responsibility.
main theme inflation
Earlier, Macron and Le Pen presented opposing proposals to boost purchasing power – a key issue in the election campaign. At the start of the eagerly awaited only television debate before next Sunday’s runoff election, Macron announced increases in pensions and the minimum wage as well as a cap on gas and electricity prices on Wednesday evening.
It is also important to further reduce unemployment. Le Pen proposed reducing VAT on energy and eliminating taxes on 100 basic necessities.
At the start of the TV debate, Macron and Le Pen tried to have an objective, albeit critical, exchange. When the two sat opposite each other in a TV duel before the 2017 election, the discussion was characterized by insults and personal attacks. Now Macron showed himself to be a listener who agreed with his opponent in some statements – but then tried to refute their conclusions or demands. Le Pen also focused on her opponent’s statements and presented herself as an advocate for the people.
Both candidates are courting voters for the left-wing populist Jean-Luc Melenchon, who came in third place in the first round with just under 22 percent. He calls for “not voting for Le Pen” but refrains from supporting Macron. Mélenchon is hoping for a good result for his movement La France Insoumise (Indomitable France) in June’s general election and has already put himself forward as prime minister.
Two more days of intensive campaigning
For the final two days of the election campaign, Le Pen is planning several more visits to the north of the country, where she did well in the first round. Macron will conclude his election campaign in Nice in southern France.
At midnight on Friday, the political radio silence begins, during which neither the publication of polls nor interviews is allowed. The polling stations are open on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., in large cities also until 8 p.m. First projections will be published at 8 p.m.
(APA/dpa/AFP)