Macron competes with Le Pen in a fiery TV debate

Paris
CNN
–

French President Emmanuel Macron and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen clashed Wednesday night in a televised debate that exposed their differences, as they prepare for a confrontation in Sunday’s presidential run-off.

The centrist beat a familiar tune of massive investment in French industry and an uncompromising commitment to the European Union. Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Rally, has presented herself as the voice of the public struggling with the cost of living crisis.

Le Pen, who lost to Macron in the 2017 run-off, said she was “obligated to be the spokeswoman for the people” and promised to be the “sovereign president”.

“My absolute priority in the next five years is to get the French people back,” she said, reiterating her campaign pledge to reduce value-added tax (VAT) on energy and fuel.

Candidate Relationships with Russia It sparked a sharp exchange during the nearly three-hour debate broadcast on TF1 and France 2, as Macron highlighted a Russian bank loan that Le Pen’s party is still repaying.

You don’t talk to other leaders, you talk to your banker when you talk to Russia. That’s the problem, Ms. Le Pen.

Le Pen has long been an outspoken admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is now considered a pariah in the West for his unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Le Pen visited the Russian strongman during her 2017 presidential campaign, but this time, she was forced to cancel a promotional post with a photo of her and Putin taken during that trip.

Le Pen’s former distaste for NATO – which once vowed to pull France out of the alliance – may also be a burden because recent opinion polls show that most people polled support France’s involvement.

in UkraineLe Pen has staunchly backed her opponent’s financial support for the country as well as sanctions against Russia – with the exception of banning Russian oil and gas imports.

“I don’t think it’s the right way, it’s not what will actually hurt Russia. And above all it will do great harm to the French people.”

Macron added that Russia is following a “suicidal” path in Ukraine, although he refused to describe Moscow’s actions in the country as “genocide”. Prompting the invitation of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky comes and sees the evidence for himself.

Throughout the debate, Le Pen portrayed Macron as an elusive leader of voters, claiming he was ignorant of the suffering of health care workers before. COVID-19He promised more investment in healthcare.

Elsewhere, Le Pen called Macron a “climate hypocrite” for pursuing climate policies, such as encouraging consumers to buy electric cars, which she said were financially out of reach for many.

“We have to have a transition (in the field of energy) but it has to be, over time, much slower than what we are imposing on the French people to allow them to deal with,” Le Pen said.

Macron’s stubborn defense of France’s commitment to the European Union has also been a hot topic of debate.

The president argued that the EU works in France’s favour, especially when it faces markets such as the United States and China, whose populations far outnumber their own.

There where Europe is useful to us. When Google comes and attacks us in our market, who will come and help us? Europe. And when these large groups don’t pay their taxes in our country, what allows us to resist? Europe.”

Le Pen, who in the 2017 election called for France to leave the European Union, softened her stance, promising to reform the bloc and “alliance of countries”.

Le Pen also reverted to one of her main policies: banning the wearing of the headscarf in public.

“I think the hijab is an official dress imposed by Islamists,” she said. “I think the vast majority of women who wear one can’t actually do that, even if they don’t dare say so.”

Macron accused her of setting up a “parity system” between Islamists, terrorism and foreigners that would “create a civil war”.

The competition between Macron and Le Pen is expected to be close.

Candidates are not allowed to campaign on the day before voting, or on the day of the election itself, and the media will be subject to strict coverage restrictions from the day before the election until polls close at 8pm on Sunday in France.