French President Emmanuel Macron is attacking his far-right rival, Marine Le Pen, over her ties to Russia during a televised debate.
The two politicians discussed a wide range of topics, including immigration, the country’s foreign policy and the cost of living, as they fought for voter support.
Mr Macron claims that Ms Le Pen has become “dependent” on Russian President Vladimir Putin after taking out a loan from a Russian bank.
In an attack on his rival’s credentials, the French leader said: “You are not talking to other leaders, but to your banker, when you talk to Russia, that is the problem.”
“None of us went to seek funding from a Russian bank, especially not one close to the Russian government,” he added.
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Image: Ms Le Pen said the French president’s cost of living plans would be “ineffective” and “unfair”
His comments refer to a loan that Ms. Le Pen’s party took from a Russian-Czech bank in 2014.
The 53-year-old responded to Macron’s comments, explaining that her party was paying off the loan and calling it “dishonest” in raising the issue.
Ban on headscarves will lead to “civil war”
Mr Macron also warned that Ms Le Pen’s ban on Muslim headscarves in public places would create a “civil war” if implemented.
Ms Le Pen said she was fighting radical Islam, not Muslims: “I am not waging war against their religion,” she said.
“I say it very clearly: I think the headscarf is a uniform imposed by Islamists
“I think a lot of young women who wear it don’t really have a choice.”
Mr Macron replied: “What you are saying is very serious. You will create a civil war if you do.”
He said France would be “the first country in the world to ban religious events in public.”
“I will be president of the cost of living”
During the debate, Mr Macron highlighted his success in creating jobs, with unemployment currently at its lowest level in 13 years.
But the two candidates continued to accuse each other of failing to address real voter concerns, with Ms Le Pen saying that in real life her proposals would improve the situation for the people much more than her opponent’s policies.
She added that the French president’s cost of living plans would be “ineffective” and “unfair”.
Image: Mr Macron’s comments refer to a loan that Ms Le Pen’s party took from a Russian-Czech bank in 2014.
“I will make it my absolute priority to return the money to the French over the next five years,” Ms Le Pen said, adding that the French had “suffered” throughout Macron’s term.
“I will be the president of the cost of living,” she said.
Read more: In the last runoff of the French elections, people vote for the candidate they least like
Protesters fell to the ground after picking up a photo of Marin Le Pen and Vladimir Putin
Mr Macron argued that many of Ms Le Pen’s proposals were unrealistic and that her idea of reducing VAT to improve purchasing power was “inaccurate”.
Who is the leader in the polls?
The debate was the only time the two potential leaders stood up on television before Sunday’s run-off vote.
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6:44 Macron vs. Le Pen – What’s different about this French election?
In 2017, such a debate dealt a decisive blow to Ms. Le Pen’s campaign after she confused her notes and lost ground.
Currently, Macron, a pro-European centrist, continues to lead public opinion polls.
But Ms Le Pen, an anti-immigration nationalist who has established herself this year by using anger against inflation, has significantly narrowed the gap in public support compared to five years ago, when she lost 34% of the vote to Macron’s 66%.
The election presents voters with two opposing visions of France: Mr Macron offers a pro-European, liberal platform, while Mrs Le Pen’s nationalist manifesto is based on deep Euroscepticism.
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