Decisive week for Macron and Le Pen, ahead of the debate

The two candidates for the Elysee, the current president of France, Emmanuel Macronand his rival from Agrupación Nacional, Marine LePenfacing the final stretch towards the second round of the presidential election in a week in which Wednesday’s televised debate will be pivotal.

Macron, who won the first round, starts as the favourite, but the distances are not insurmountable. The data varies depending on the polls, although a survey, conducted by Ipsos and published on Sunday, is advantage about 11 points

Macron opted for a low profile in the weeks leading up to the first vote, but in this second phase he has not spared criticism of his rival, whom he already faced in 2017. Its aim is to mobilize the electorate against the threat which, in his view, he represents the far right.

In an interview with the radio station France Culture, Macron compared Le Pen to the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, accused her of wanting to reform the constitution at any cost, and assured her that she was “hiding” from citizens, whom he himself assumes to approach in his public actions.

A National Association leader consulted by Franceinfo has acknowledged that Le Pen’s aim is to “rest” the electorate, for which personal television will be essential. “He has been preparing for five years,” they note from those around him.

Le Pen has in fact reduced his public activities in recent days. In 2017, he admitted that he made “strategic mistakes” in the debate and according to Europe 1, he will now run several simulations.

Analysts estimate that participation will be critical in this final vote, as will the level of resistance both candidates face among those who voted for France Insumisa’s candidate. Jean-Luc Melenchon