Le Pen, Macron in bitter clash ahead of tight French election

Given that Le Pen is a friend of Putin, it would be a disaster for NATO and the west for her to win. I hope the French people realize that this is not the time to elect a Putin ally.

Macron vs Le Pen: follow the Debate LIVE - French presidential election

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKtZprAHJwM

In full, neither are particularly competent debaters.

It comes to mind that one of the biggest hurdles that both candidates face is speaking to the concerns of French young people. And to convince them that this election isn't a race-to-the-bottom between the lesser choice of two undesired futures.

Ms. Le Pen is the reincarnation of the Vichy, afraid to confront tyranny and willing to be complicit in genocide. It would be deeply shameful for the French to chose her as their next President, a dark stain on their reputation.

Olaf Scholz

At least Herr Scholz saw the truth that is plainly in front of us and made an abrupt reversal of long standing German policy. I doubt Fra Merkel could have done the same. Ms. Le Pen however remains in the thrall of Mr. Putin and even last week was saying France and NATO should not be involved in helping Ukraine defend itself from the Russian invasion. She is, as I said earlier, the reincarnation of the Vichy.

Decomcracysucks. The only functional democracy is Russia where 82% of citizens support their elected President. French have a choice between two evils. Actually no choice.

If Macron is their best hope, France really is in trouble.

Rodney - you are leaving out the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Also, very high turnout and approval.

As politician go both Marcon and Le Pen are as unlikable as unelectable.

Le Pen clearly wants to dismantle the EU from the inside out.

I may have a beef with EU federalism where the UK membership is or was concerned, but to unravel the EU project would create political and economic turmoil.

Both have difficulty counting economically and fiscally from one to ten. There were moments both pointlessly bickered over the in and outs of a ducks backside.

Macron customary haughty conceited condescension pouring out of him like sicky mouthfuls of treacle.

If these two are the best France has to offer, al least for the next five years, then the people are up poo creek without a paddle.

With German Chancellor Olaf Scholz politically belly button gazing, in a coma, to gas or not to gas,

Boris Johnson unable to differentiate between the morality of a fragrant abuse of the parliamentary code and a parking ticket, got to wonder what future Europe has.

Both are not ideal, they have their own hidden weaknesses.

Anyway, French have to choose the one who is less faultable..

Make sure the turn out of voters is above 60%,

otherwise, the so-called democratic election could well be farcical..

All my French friends and acquaintance back in the days I worked in Lyon backed Macron 2017.

A President they rather rudely refer to as mac-moron.

It is difficult to understand as all have prospered. Yet today they despise the fellow.

Most will simple blank the ballot paper in protest. Other will vote Le Pen.

I have viewed the debate, admittedly Macron insufferable tone and mannerisms irritate.

From the debate Le Pen is attempting to be all things to everybody.

Le Pen nationalist beliefs, coupled with a core socialist economics doctrine has the fearful echo of Europe history.

Neo-liberal vs right-winger, almost two flavours of the same exact thing. That is not a choice I envy my French comrades, pretty much a lose-lose. I wouldn't be surprised if Le Pen actually pulled it out, as a lot of french voters who wanted neither of them probably find her less insufferable. Which is telling in itself.

Macron is a globalist seeking to castrate the rights of workers and as crime rises in France, to criminalise those protecting their own homes-he’s a moron

America and France deserve more than 'choosing the lesser of two evils'. We've seen this scenario repeated time and time again.

Addfwyn: so true.

The only candidate that offered anything meaningful came third.

Le Pen won’t win. Macron is far from suitable but we’ve seen this happen before.

The latest poll by Ipsos/Sopra Steria published Wednesday predicted a solid margin of victory for Macron on 56 percent to 44 for Le Pen.

We will see.

Bob FosseToday  03:17 pm JST

Le Pen won’t win. Macron is far from suitable but we’ve seen this happen before.

Because he won before that means he will win again???

The turnout could be critical. plus the how the undecided choose to land there cross within the confides of the voting booth.

Because he won before that means he will win again???

No. Because he is the lesser of two evils.

Winning before is no guarantee to win again. Seen that before?

When there are only 2 candidates people will generally vote for the lesser evil. Seen that recently?

You are using a poll of 56/44 to bolster your case for Le Pen. Ok.

There are a lot of problems with the right wing leaning folks.

Lots of problems with the left too, but we’re talking about Le Pen.

The biggest one is a tendency to go with knee jerk reactions based on what other folks raised, groomed or told them to think.

Right wing politicians know this and aim for the low educated and easily riled who can chant a slogan whilst being fooled into believing an ‘other’ is a danger to them.

Le Pen hopes to capitalise on this human weakness. The majority of French see this ruse and will reject it on voting day.

Bob FosseToday  04:16 pm JST

No. Because he is the lesser of two evils. 

Says who?

Winning before is no guarantee to win again. Seen that before?

Will see it again in the mid-terms

When there are only 2 candidates people will generally vote for the lesser evil. Seen that recently?

No, where?

You are using a poll of 56/44 to bolster your case for Le Pen. Ok.

Using polls in which Hillary led...and..well, we have seen that before.

Says who?

56% of French according to you.

“The biggest one is a tendency to go with knee jerk reactions based on what other folks raised, groomed or told them to think.”

Thanks for the examples.

Bob FosseToday  04:42 pm JST

56% of French according to you. 

“The biggest one is a tendency to go with knee jerk reactions based on what other folks raised, groomed or told them to think.”

Thanks for the examples.

You confused me with another poster; looks like knee jerk reaction.

You confused me with another poster; looks like knee jerk reaction.

You didn’t post polls where 56% will vote Macron? I was replying to you.

Alt log-in confusion again?

What will you do next week when Le Pen has lost? How will you explain it?

In their only head-to-head confrontation before the electorate has its say in Sunday’s winner-takes-all vote, Macron took the gloves off, arguing that his rival is unsuitable to lead the nuclear-armed and ethnically diverse European power and deal with Moscow. He sought to portray Le Pen as fundamentally untrustworthy, accusing her of dishonesty and of using faulty figures in her election promises.

https://worldabcnews.com/macron-slams-le-pen-over-moscow-ties-pledged-headscarf-ban-in-frances-presidential-debate/

Jean-Luc Mélenchon voters could swing this 2nd round, 7,712,520 votes.

It could come down to the wire over abstentionism.

Politico poll of polls give Macron a clear 10 point lead.

I lost a serious amount of money when in 2016, I bet against UK leaving the EU.

The numbers suggested remain would win 51/2% to 47%.

However exit polling revealed a mathematical error, a significant number of 18 to 25 year old abstained from registering a vote.