In difficulty for several days, they clashed directly this Thursday evening.
Valérie Pécresse and Éric Zemmour, who lost several points in the voting intention surveys, debated for nearly an hour and a half on TF1 then LCI, the news channel of the TF1 group, this Thursday evening.
The exchanges were often lively, even sometimes inaudible.
Read alsoPresidential: profiles, programs … All about the 12 qualified candidates
Ukraine was on the menu for the first half hour, then immigration and economic issues took over.
The opportunity for these two right-wing candidates to try to catch up with Emmanuel Macron, the big favorite in the election if the polls are to be believed.
Pécresse immediately attacks: "You are discredited to preside over France"
From her first intervention, the president of the Île-de-France region strongly attacked Éric Zemmour, criticized for the sympathy he has long displayed towards Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"When you're under Putin's influence, you can't be patriotic, and that's why Mr. Zemmour is discrediting you for presiding over France," she said.
Eric Zemmour is the spirit of Munich, it is the spirit of defeat.
You cannot call yourself a patriot when you are under the influence of Vladimir Putin.
This is why Eric Zemmour is discredited for presiding over France.
#FaceAFaceTF1LCI #ValériePrésidente pic.twitter.com/pxvaiZpmYw
— Valérie Pécresse (@vpecresse) March 10, 2022
Eric Zemmour replied by saying that the Republican candidate had called Vladimir Putin an “authoritarian democrat”.
But we found no trace of such remarks.
"I have a thought for our brothers in Ukraine who are fighting heroically against the authoritarian power of Vladimir Putin," she said on March 4, during a meeting in Chartres.
On the other hand, the expression “authoritarian democrat” has been used several times by a certain… Éric Zemmour.
Zemmour accuses Pécresse of having a "false immigration policy"
Valérie Pécresse said she was in favor of welcoming Ukrainian migrants who would arrive in France.
“I am faithful to the Christian tradition of France.
I do not vary on this, because these are my principles, “she said, accusing her opponent of” inhumanity “(a term used twice).
More generally, candidate LR criticized Éric Zemmour for wanting to "tear France apart" with his proposal for "zero immigration".
Éric Zemmour is more reluctant to welcome Ukrainian refugees, believing that they wanted above all to “go to Poland”.
He said he was opposed to welcoming any in France, before qualifying his remarks somewhat.
“In every war, you would welcome all the migrants.
You have to tell the French, Madame Pécresse”, dropped the former journalist from Figaro magazine, accusing Valérie of having a “false immigration policy”.
"Everything is bogus with you, Madame Pécresse, in the fight against immigration," he continued.
Reply, playground way: "But it's you, everything is bogus".
“Women have the right to express themselves”
While speaking on immigration, Valérie Pécresse was interrupted several times by Éric Zemmour.
“Don't interrupt me, please.
I also have the right to express myself.
Women have the right to express themselves”, she was annoyed … attracting an “Ohhh” from Éric Zemmour.
Without saying so, she was probably referring to the fact that the polemicist is a fan of anti-feminist outings and regularly accused of misogyny.
Above all, eight women have recently accused him of sexual assault – which he denies.
“Do women have the right to express themselves, Mr. Zemmour?
» @vpecresse #ValeriePresidente #FaceAFaceTF1LCI pic.twitter.com/7deOvpioHP
— Pécresse 2022 🇫🇷 (@avecValerie) March 10, 2022
Exchanges sometimes inaudible
On several occasions, and especially when discussing immigration (one of the main themes), the debate became difficult to follow.
The reactions were unanimous on social networks: “Cacophony”, “kindergarten battle”, “it looks like a condominium meeting”… “You know that the spectators no longer follow at all if you continue to shout at each other like that”, a attempted to tax journalist Ruth Elkrief.
"Be respectful and make sure that this debate is audible to viewers, it's the least of courtesies", begged shortly after the journalist Gilles Bouleau, another host of the debate.
“We are not in a playground!
», Ruth Elkrief and Gilles Bouleau crack as the debate becomes completely inaudible.
— Marylou Magal (@marylou_magal) March 10, 2022
Valérie Pécresse did not hesitate to raise her voice several times.
“Me, I am on the right, there are no Nazi salutes in my meetings”, she for example dropped after an hour of debate, referring to a scene seen in a recent meeting of 'Eric Zemmour.
He replied: “Me neither… well, we fired him right away.
»
When Macron invites himself into the debate...
Valérie Pécresse has defended herself on several occasions: “There is a gap between Emmanuel Macron and me.
“You are the same,” replied Eric Zemmour, believing that the head of state and the Republican candidate shared the same program.
“At 8:02 p.m. (the evening of the first round, editor’s note), she will call to vote for Emmanuel Macron.
They are the same”, he developed in conclusion of a debate… which was not always one.