The current centrist beat a familiar tune of big investments in French industry and an uncompromising commitment to the European Union. Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Rally party, has portrayed himself as the voice of a public struggling with the cost of living crisis.
Le Pen, who lost to Macron in the 2017 run-off, said she was “obliged to be a spokesman for the people” and promised to be “president of sovereignty”.
“My absolute priority for the next five years is to return the money to the French,” she said, reiterating her commitment to reducing VAT (value added tax) on energy and fuels.
The candidates’ relations with Russia sparked a fiery exchange during the nearly three-hour debate on TF1 and France 2, with Macron highlighting a loan from a Russian bank that Le Pen’s party is still repaying.
“You are not talking to other leaders, but to your banker when you are talking to Russia. That is the problem, Mrs Le Pen,” he said.
Le Pen has long been a staunch admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is now considered a pariah in the West because of his unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Le Pen visited the strong Russian man during her 2017 presidential campaign, but this time she was forced to throw out a flyer with a photo of her and Putin taken during the trip.
Le Pen’s previous aversion to NATO – it once promised to withdraw France from the alliance – could also be a problem, as recent polls show that most respondents support France’s participation.
With regard to Ukraine, Le Pen strongly supported his opponent’s material support for the country, as well as sanctions against Russia – with the exception of the ban on imports of Russian oil and gas.
“I do not think this is the right method, it will not really harm Russia. And above all, it will cause great pain to the French people, “she said.
Macron added that Russia was pursuing a “suicidal” course of action in Ukraine, although he refused to describe Moscow’s actions in the country as “genocide”, prompting an invitation from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to come and see the evidence for himself.
No connection?
During the debate, Le Pen portrayed Macron as an unrelated leader, claiming he was unaware of the suffering of health workers before Covid-19 because he promised more investment in health care.
Elsewhere, Le Pen called Macron a “climate hypocrite” for adhering to climate policies, such as encouraging consumers to buy electric cars, which she said were financially unaffordable for many French people.
“We need to have an (energy) transition, but it needs to be much slower over time than we are forcing the French to do to deal with it,” Le Pen said.
Macron’s stubborn defense of France’s commitment to the European Union was also a hot topic in the debate.
The President said that the European Union was working in France’s favor, especially when facing markets such as the United States and China, whose populations far exceeded their own.
“Europe is good for us there. When Google comes and attacks us in our market, who comes and helps us? Europe. And when these large groups do not pay their taxes in our countries, what allows us to fight? Europe “.
Le Pen, who called for France’s exit from the EU in the 2017 elections, softened her stance, promising reform of the bloc and a “union of nations”.
Le Pen also returned to one of his main policies: banning the wearing of the hijab in public.
“I think the headscarf is a uniform imposed by Islamists,” she said. “I don’t think most women who wear one can really do anything else, even if they don’t dare say so.
Macron accused her of creating a “system of equivalence” between Islamism, terrorism and foreigners that would “create a civil war.”
The race between Macron and Le Pen is expected to be close.
Candidates are not allowed to campaign on the day before the election or on election day itself, and the media will be subject to strict restrictions on coverage from the day before the election until the polls close at 8 pm on Sunday in France.
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