Macron vs. Le Pen - Who's wowing voters this time?
Created: 04/11/2022Updated: 04/11/2022, 17:55
A man walks past campaign posters for the French presidential election.
© Ludovic Marin/AFP/dpa
No sooner have right-wingers Marine Le Pen and French President Emmanuel Macron successfully mastered the first round of the presidential election than attention turns to the run-off.
Which of the two can convince?
Paris – French President Emmanuel Macron and right-wing Marine Le Pen do not have time to rest on their laurels.
Nothing has been won with their successes in the first round of the presidential election on Sunday.
Who hits the current nerve of the French better, and where is the chemistry right?
In addition to visions and plans, the choice of destiny in France is also about the human factor.
As a sovereign leader on the international stage, President Macron ignored the election campaign until shortly before the end.
On Monday, the 44-year-old plunges into the hustle and bustle of the marketplace to catch up on what competitor Le Pen has been doing for months: listening to the worries and needs of simple French people.
While bathing in the crowd before the election, Macron found out that positive government balance sheets for work or the economy, the promise of initial aid in the crisis and naming problems at the lectern are not enough.
A desperate man told him that up to now he had had a decent salary and had been able to go on vacation and save something - but now his money wouldn't last much longer and he felt like a poor worker.
This election campaign is also about dignity and being noticed - and about which of the two candidates is better at conveying empathy and a feeling of care to people.
Not the first showdown
It is not the first showdown for Macron and Le Pen.
They faced each other in the run-off election in 2017.
The young political star at the time, Macron, who enthusiastically spread a spirit of optimism with his movement La République en Marche, defeated the right wing hands down.
But five years in office have added Macron, the polls predict a close election result for this time.
The opponents therefore have to learn from old mistakes.
53-year-old Le Pen started doing this quite a while ago.
In 2017, observers attested to Le Pen's aggressive demeanor, constantly smiling and striving for moderation, she has been trying to change her image for years.
In the election campaign, she threw herself on issues very close to citizens worn down by the world situation and refrained from overly harsh provocations.
Author Raphaël Llorca, who wrote a book about the right-wing strategy, calls it a "therapy campaign" intended to calm the French after a period of perpetual crisis.
Le Pen himself said in an interview in February: "I'm fed up with noise and anger.
I crave efficiency and balance.”
TV debate becomes a hurdle for Le Pen
Increased sympathy points or not, the TV debate with the skilled orator Macron will be a major hurdle for Le Pen.
Five years ago, she embarrassed herself in the duel a few days before the election.
With good preparation, she now wants to show that she is a match for the statesman Macron.
It is now up to the former investment banker to finally show his presence and shake off his image of the arrogant politician who cannot relate to the concerns of many.
Perhaps also because his late start in the election campaign and his absence were so displeased, he didn't waste any time after the election night to mingle with the people in north-eastern France.
And: The head of state rarely seemed humble when he admitted that left votes for him - in order to prevent Le Pen - of course not confirmed his policy in the second round.
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Le Pen and Macron both know that ultimately they can only win the election if they also reach out to those who have little agreement with their positions.
It remains to be seen who will be the best at this difficult act.
While the response of the candidates against the background of the state of mind within France plays a role in the outcome of the duel, the consequences of the election are of a European dimension.
An earthquake similar to Brexit is predicted if Eurosceptic Le Pen moves into the Élysée Palace.
The nationalist thinks little of the Franco-German axis or the European Union that it drives.
Macron, on the other hand, offers the certainty of continuity in interaction with Brussels and Berlin.
If Macron, who likes to present himself as a European model pupil, were re-elected, the situation would be rebalanced in both Berlin and Brussels.
dpa
