Presidential election in France: Macron accuses Le Pen of dependency on Russia in a TV duel

Created: 2022-04-20Updated: 2022-04-20 11:14 PM

In the only TV duel before the presidential election in France, incumbent Macron and his right-wing competitor Le Pen fought over the best concepts for the country.

Paris – Four days before the presidential election in France*, Head of State Emmanuel Macron* and his challenger Marine Le Pen* delivered a tough exchange of blows in a TV duel.

Both candidates tried to have an objective debate on Wednesday evening.

Le Pen, on the right, who always smiled brightly, presented herself as the advocate of the simple French and tried to make a sympathetic appearance.

Central politician Macron, who is running for a second term, was initially more active in the debate and also acknowledged mistakes and omissions in the past term.

Presidential election in France: Macron and Le Pen are fighting over the pension issue

When it comes to purchasing power - a constant concern of the French and a key issue in the election campaign - Macron and Le Pen presented opposing concepts.

At the start of the eagerly awaited only televised debate, Macron announced increases in pensions and the minimum wage, as well as a cap on gas and electricity prices.

In addition, it is important to further reduce unemployment, a personal wage is the best way to strengthen purchasing power.

Le Pen proposed reducing VAT on energy and eliminating taxes on 100 basic necessities.

When it came to the issue of pensions, which has been the subject of repeated debates in France, Le Pen insisted on retiring at the age of 60 to 62.

Anyone starting their career at the age of 16 to 20 should be able to retire at the age of 60, the other employees at the age of 62, as has been the case up to now.

"Retirement at 65 is an absolute injustice," Le Pen said of Macron's plan for a higher retirement age.

Macron emphasized that a pension from the age of 65 should not apply to all employees, with the exception of people in particularly strenuous jobs.

In view of an increased life expectancy, the pension system must be counter-financed.

Emmanuel Macron (l), President of France and top candidate of the centric party "La Republique en Marche (LREM)", and Marine Le Pen, presidential candidate of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, take part in a TV debate.

© Ludovic Marin/dpa

TV duel in France: Macron accuses Le Pen of dependence on Russia

Macron accused his right-wing opponent of making herself dependent on Russia.

“They depend on Russian power and they depend on Mr. Putin.

They don't talk to other leaders, they talk to their banker when they talk about Russia,” Macron sniffed at Le Pen.

Macron was referring to a loan Le Pen took out from a Czech-Russian bank in 2014.

Le Pen defended herself by saying that French banks would not approve such financial aid.

"Don't you think that's scandalous?" Le Pen replied, speaking of the banks' democratic deficit.

Macron emphasized France's anchoring in the European Union and made a commitment to Franco-German cooperation.

“I believe in Europe and I believe in the Franco-German couple.

I think it is the Franco-German couple that has enabled us to reach agreements.” The President accused Le Pen of wanting to leave the EU without making it clear.

Le Pen said there is no European sovereignty because there is no European people.

"I defend the Europe of nations." She doesn't want to leave the EU, if that were the case she would say so.

Yours is about changes in the Union.

Macron and Le Pen sat opposite each other in a TV duel before the 2017 presidential election, and the discussion was characterized by insults and personal attacks.

Now Macron showed himself to be a listener who agreed that his opponent was right about some of the statements - but then tried to refute their conclusions or demands.

Le Pen also focused on her opponent's statements and attempted to refute a number of statements made by the President.