Marine Le Pen finds it “very useful” to debate with Emmanuel Macron, but “in September” after the European elections, she indicated Sunday evening in a statement sent by her entourage to AFP. “It would be very useful if I could debate with the president in September on what he intends to do with the three long years that remain” as head of state, she declared.
A little earlier, the leader of the deputies of the National Rally had been able to suggest in the media that she was ready to comply with this exercise before June 9. She “always said that she was up for a debate”, noted those around her at AFP, the Pas-de-Calais MP also responding in the affirmative in The Parisian : “I already answered this question and said yes.”
Idea shared in both camps
The hypothesis of proposing a debate to the far-right leader before the European elections is circulating in the presidential camp, clearly lagging behind the RN in the polls. It was notably whispered to Emmanuel Macron on April 30, during a dinner at the Élysée after the presentation of the Legion of Honor to former senator LR Pierre Charon, according to La Tribune Dimanche. “I’m thinking about it,” replied the head of state, according to the newspaper.
A participant at the dinner confirmed to AFP that the subject had been discussed during the evening, adding that the president had not spoken clearly. “I have confidence in my head of list” Jordan Bardella, replied Marine Le Pen on Sunday evening. “I find it very humiliating for Gabriel Attal to leak this proposal (of a debate between the president and me, Editor’s note) before the one which is to be held between the Prime Minister and Jordan Bardella”, on May 23. “This proves the little confidence that Emmanuel Macron has in his Prime Minister,” she added.
Put pressure
One of the interests for the Macronists of such an exercise would have been to try to put pressure on Marine Le Pen, who had failed to convince during the debates of 2017 and 2022 against the candidate Macron. “I find it contradictory to propose a presidential debate when (the Macronist camp) constantly criticizes us for nationalizing the debate,” Marine Le Pen further declared. For his part, Gabriel Attal declared on Sunday evening in an interview with Progrès that he wanted to debate with the far-right leader.
“Institutional logic would have wanted me to debate with Marine Le Pen. As Prime Minister, I am responsible to the National Parliament and the president of the first opposition group in the National Assembly is she,” a- he explained. But, “she is afraid of debates” and “chose to flee”, he added, noting that he had then accepted the exercise with Jordan Bardella.