Macron and Le Pen clash on Russia in feisty debate ahead of presidential run-off

[brooklynite]

Source: France24

French President Emmanuel Macron and his far-right challenger Marine Le Pen went head-to-head in a bruising televised debate on Wednesday, seeking to sway undecided voters with just days left before the second and final round of the presidential election on Sunday.

Macron holds a solid lead in polls ahead of the April 24 run-off, but his political allies had warned against complacency ahead of the prime-time duel with Le Pen – their only direct debate of the campaign.

The far-right leader had cleared her schedule this week to concentrate on preparing for the face-off, hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2017 debate fiasco that ended her hopes of pulling off an upset win five years ago.

In a reversal of roles, it was Macron who took the gloves off this time, tearing into his opponent over her ties to Russia and for wanting to strip Muslim women of their right to wear headscarves in public.

Read more: https://www.france24.com/en/france/20220420-live-macron-and-le-pen-face-off-in-debate-ahead-of-french-presidential-run-off

[Lasher]

1. Macron will slaughter Le Penn in the runoff.

[StevieM]

2. Those polls are from their election 5 years ago.

Last edited Thu Apr 21, 2022, 01:07 AM - Edit history (1)

This time it is expected to be much closer.

Still, I expect that Macron will win by a good 10-12 points.

[rpannier]

3. He should win. I'm guessing 6-8

Depends on how many don't vote... and that number seems a decent size

[speak easy]

7. if I was a gal, I'd say 'Fuck Le Pen'

as a guy, wanting to keep my lunch down, I'll say: 'Lose Baby, Lose '

[Dopers_Greed]

4. I'd be surprised if she won

I just don't think she can get enough support in a two-way race. She'd have to peel off a lot of Macron and left-wing voters. Probably won't happen.

We've seen nasty surprises before though (like the Slobfather winning).

[duforsure]

5. If the French people vote in Le Pen , or allow it to be fixed like our 2016 election was,

They have no idea how bad she could hurt their country, and the people in it. Stop fascism by making it clear she isn't wanted with a landslide against her, or pay the price we have here in the USA. Businesses should be scared of her kind too, or they'll become like Putin has done in russia where only the most corrupt are allowed to prosper.

[not fooled]

6. She's using red don's playbook from 2016

promise working-class voters--who have legitimate grievances--that she's on their side and will enact policies to benefit them.

Wonder where she got that idea? Same source as her $10 million "loan." And her promises would come to fruition to just the same degree as red don's--not at all.

[BlueWavePsych]

8. Don't let Putin's puppet rule France!