Macron-Le Pen debate: Emmanuel Macron accuses Marine Le Pen of “depending on Russian power”

This is undoubtedly the first time that a subject of international politics has imposed itself so quickly in a debate in the second round of a presidential election.

This was the case Wednesday evening between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen.

We would never have imagined it three months ago, but the war in Ukraine was undoubtedly one of the most important moments of the debate.

Technical and soporific on the issue of purchasing power, the conversation suddenly heated up as soon as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine was discussed.

To discover

• Relive the Macron-Le Pen debate for the 2022 presidential election

• Macron-Le Pen debate: what to remember from the face-to-face for the 2022 presidential election

Read also

This was the weak point of Marine Le Pen, who has always shown great complacency vis-à-vis the regime of Vladimir Putin, and, on this subject, Emmanuel Macron has retained the advantage.

It is true that it is he who has managed, since the start of the Russian offensive, the file at European level, he who has held the rotating presidency of the EU since January 1, 2022.

Faced with the

he reiterated that the role of France and Europe was to support Ukraine, and that faced with the

chosen today by Russia had to

No doubt aware that the Russian subject is her Achilles heel, Marine Le Pen remained very calm.

She has distanced herself from her traditionally empathetic speeches vis-à-vis Vladimir Putin's Russia.

On the defensive, she has, even if it is a little late, expressed her

with the Ukrainian people and considered

This unexpected turn has its limits, however, and the RN candidate reaffirmed her opposition to sanctions against Russian gas and oil.

On this subject, she said,

turns

The new moderation of the RN candidate on the war in Ukraine was noted by the French president, who criticized her for holding positions contrary to those she has professed since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Emmanuel Macron reminded Marine Le Pen, who borrowed 8 million euros in 2015 from a Russian bank, that she

" said the president-candidate.

It was Marine Le Pen's weak point and Emmanuel Macron, during this second chapter of the debate, pressed on it almost without forcing himself.

he said.

Read also

Second major subject of international policy which opposes the two candidates, the European Union.

And first of all one of its bases, the Franco-German couple, whose relevance is questioned by Marine Le Pen, while it is still firmly defended by Emmanuel Macron.

recalled the president,

in particular during the Covid, with the recovery plan and the vaccine policy.

For the outgoing president, the stronger Europe he calls for cannot do without the Franco-German engine, unlike its rival, which calls into question some of its foundations, in particular industrial policy.

The RN candidate recalled what differentiated her from the French president on Europe.

In preference to the current European Union, which she assured not wanting to leave, in any case in the short term, she wants to

.

Macron criticized him for preparing the

of France.

On Russia, to which she still proposed a strategic alliance a few days ago, as on the European Union, the candidate of the National Rally appeared much more moderate than usual.

Emmanuel Macron concluded that

of his program had

It remains to be seen what effect these shifts will have on the electorate.