False start, purchasing power and “real life”, Gérard Majax and Putin “banker” of Marine Le Pen… “Libé” rewinds the debate between the two rounds between the outgoing president and the candidate of the National rally.
Expected, scrutinized and dissected. The first face-to-face since 2017 between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen has delivered all its promises. The two presidential finalists debated this Wednesday evening, on TF1 and France 2, for nearly 2 h 50. A cordial debate, a few spades, a candidate on the defensive and a head of state not really bothered… Release returns to the key moments of the debate.
A false start for Marine Le Pen
Three, two, one, and… False start. The National Rally candidate began speaking at the launch of the show’s credits. One of the two presenters took her up by asking her the first question: “Which president would you like to be?” Smiling embarrassed, the candidate resumed the course of her remarks casually. A moment quickly forgotten, but which set the tone for a debate during which the far-right candidate did not really manage to take the lead over her opponent.
Purchasing power and “real life”
It was to be an angle of attack of choice for the candidate of the National Rally. The theme of purchasing power occupied the first minutes of the debate. Marine Le Pen began with a spade addressed to her opponent concerning the reduction of 5 euros in housing allowances (APL). Unfolding her program, the candidate addressed in particular the reduction in VAT that she intends to implement. Wanting to bring the President back to his image of “president of the rich”, she then referred to the “real life” people. “We are all in real life Madame Le Pen”, replied the candidate of La République en Marche (LREM). For his part, Macron defended his policy: the “tariff shield” on energy, its “premium up to 6,000 euros”etc. During this exchange, courteous but technical, everyone also wanted to play the right students with supporting figures. Even if it means leaving a few viewers on the side of the road…
Vladimir Putin “banker” of Le Pen
The war in Ukraine offered the first pass of arms between the two candidates. Rewinding the thread of events to 2014, Emmanuel Macron attacked his opponent over his recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. “Why did you do it? launched the president-candidate. Because you depend on Russian power, and you depend on Mr Putin.” And to continue his charge: “You don’t talk to other leaders, you talk to your banker when you talk about Russia.” The blow made the RN candidate change your tone: “I am an absolutely and totally free woman.” “What you say is wrong”, replied Le Pen on several occasions. In the ropes, the far-right candidate tried to justify herself on her inability to request a loan from French banks. Then counter-attacked by accusing Macron of having received the Russian president “with great fanfare” in Versailles [en mai 2017, ndlr]. To which the President replied: “I received him as a head of state and government, not as a banker.”
“It’s not Gérard Majax tonight Madame Le Pen!”
We were starting to doze off… And Macron pulled out of his hat a reference to the years Back to the future. Debating on the level of debt and the “whatever the cost” deployed during the health crisis by the government, the President denounced the “counter-truths” of his opponent. Before going out, after “pizza powder” in 2017, a sentence that was surprising to say the least: “It’s not Gérard Majax tonight Madame Le Pen!” An allusion to the star magician of the 1980s… And above all a way for him to mock his rival and send her back for her alleged incompetence.
On the environment, “climatosceptic” versus “climato-hypocritical”
Project against project. Asked about the environment, Marine Le Pen opened the ball by defending her “localism”, in other words a “economic patriotism”, then by denouncing animal suffering. For his part, Emmanuel Macron immediately accused her of being “climatosceptic”before rolling out his project. “I am not climatosceptic”answered Marine Le Pen a few seconds later, before replying in turn: “You are a climato-hypocrite.” The skirmish continued over wind turbines, a subject that divides the two contenders for the Elysée. “I am going to start dismantling the wind turbines. I dismantle those who create disturbances in the neighborhood. […] We are going to start this project because it is expensive for the French, it pollutes our landscapes and it is intermittent”explained Le Pen. ‘Taxpayers’ money could be put to better use’retorted Macron.
A “divergence” on the veil
It was not until the very end of the debate that the subject of wearing the veil in public space was broached, giving rise to a rough exchange between the two candidates. “I am for the ban on the veil in public space”launched Le Pen, who has nevertheless varied on the subject in recent days, assuring that it was no longer a “priority” for her. “I want to fight against Islamism, I am not fighting against Islam but against the Islamist ideology which attacks the foundations of our Republic and seeks to impose Sharia”, said the far-right candidate. Opposite, Macron accused him of undermining “universalism” from France. “You haven’t read my law” retorted Le Pen, being answered by Macron: “No, but I have read the French Constitution”.
Updated at 11:38 p.m. with the exchange on the wearing of the veil.