French election 2022: Macron and Le Pen clash in presidential debate over far-right candidate Russia links
Follow the debate as it happened
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Washington Bureau Chief
Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen have clashed over the far-right leader’s links with Russia in a live television debate ahead of the upcoming election.
The incumbent president said Ms Le Pen was “dependent on Putin” and called Russia her “banker” as he launched into fierce criticism over a loan taken from a Russian bank in 2014. The National Rally leader denied her independence was compromised by this.
The two candidates also clashed over energy - in particular renewables - and Muslim headscarves in public spaces, with the Mr Macron saying Ms Le Pen’s plans to ban them would start a “civil war”.
Mr Macron, a pro-European centrist, has been enjoying a growing and significant lead over Ms Le Pen, an anti-immigration nationalist, according to polls. But the result is expected to be closer than five years ago.
Bookmakers said more than a quater of French voters were waiting for the debate to decide how - or whether - to vote in the final round of the presidential election on Sunday.
Why would you make a better president? - Le Pen answer
Marine Le Pen: “I know our people well. I’ve been meeting them for years. I am forced to be a witness for five years. I’ve seen them suffer, I’ve seen them worry.”
She says she would be the president that would look after everyday concerns, such as purchasing power and schools.
The far-right candidate says she would also restore harmony among the French. “I will be the president of justice. I will be the president of national fraternity. I will be the president of civil peace.”
Why would you make a better president? - Macron answer
Emmanuel Macron talks about leading France through difficult periods, including the Covid pandemic and the war being waged in eastern Europe.
“Obviously we are speaking about a time when people are worried or concerned,” he says
The incumbent president talks about the importance of improving daily life and making France “more independent and stronger”.
He also says France will be stronger if it focuses on tackling the climate crisis.
Clash over Marine Le Pen party funding
The candidates are now clashing over Marine Le Pen party financing and a decision to take out a loan with a Russian bank.
Emmanuel Macron says neither him - nor his fellow citizens - are going to Russian banks to get loans. “You speak to your banker when you speak to Russia, that’s the problem,” he said.
Ms Le Pen countered by saying she had not been able to get a loan in France and insisted that the transaction in no way compromised her independence.
Her National Rally party has been accused of taking millions of euros in loans from Kremlin-linked banks.
Borzou Daragahi in Paris has more on Russia and Ms Le Pen:
As French vote approaches, Le Pen’s Putin ties come under scrutiny
A victory for the far-right hopeful in France’s presidential election could have truly a global impact
On the EU
Marine Le Pen says she wants to stay in the European Union but to see big changes.
Emmanuel Macron questions whether one country can change a whole organisation.
Jobs for French
Marine Le Pen: “My obsession is for French to work in their own country.”
Emmanuel Macron says employers having a preference for nationality would be an end to how the European system works. How about when a French person wants to work elsewhere in Europe, he asks.
Key quotes so far
Here is a run-through of some of the key quotes so far:
Cost of living:
Le Pen: “I’ve seen the people suffer, I’ve seen them worry, worry about a downgrading in their quality of life, about a kind of precariousness that they feels is widespread.”
Macron:
“I’ve studied your programme. There isn’t even the word unemployment.”
Russia
Le Pen: “The only sanctions I disagree with is the blocking of Russian oil and gas imports. Why do I disagree? Because in reality it will do no harm to Russia and will do enormous harm to our people.”
Macron on Le Pen’s Russia ties: “You are dependent on power, you are dependent on Putin. You took a loan from a Russian bank.”
Europe
Macron: “Five years ago, your programme was only applicable if France left the Euro. Today, you still want to get out of it but you don’t say so anymore.”
Le Pen:
“I want the European Commission to respect sovereign nations, to respect the choice of the French people, including their choice of society.”
“I want to change this European organisation. But I don’t want to leave it.”
Reuters
What is the Russian loan the candidates clashed about?
Marine Le Pen obtained a loan from a Russian bank in 2014 ahead of her run for the presidency in 2017.
Earlier today, Russian opposition leader urged French voters to back Emmanuel Macron as he discussed the €9m from the First Czech Russian Bank, believed to have ties to the Kremlin.
Imprisoned Navalny urges France to vote for Macron because of Le Pen’s Russia links
He accused Marine Le Pen of receiving a €9 million loan from the First Czech-Russian Bank, ‘Putin’s notorious money-laundering outfit’
Macron retirement plans ‘an injustice’ - Le Pen
The two candidates have also clashed over the retirement age, which has been a much-debated topic during the election.
Emmanuel Macron wants to increase it to 65, which Marine Le Pen called an “injustice”.
Environment
Now we are onto the environment - and the two are exchanging blows.
Emmanuel Macron calls Marine Le Pen “climate-sceptic”. The far-right candidate calls the president a “climate-hypocrite”.
Energy
Emmanuel Macron says the only way to deal with the climate crisis is nuclear and renewable energy together.
“We shouldn’t make the errors of the past,” he says.
Marine Le Pen has vowed to push nuclear but scrap subsidies for solar and wind energy.
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