Marine Le Pen accuses 'arrogant' Macron of 'treating her with contempt' during televised debate

Marine Le Pen accuses 'arrogant' Macron of 'treating her with contempt' during televised debate
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GB News Reporter

By GB News Reporter


Published: 21/04/2022

- 18:24

Ms Le Pen will take on Emmanuel Macron in the French Presidential election run-off vote on Sunday

Marine Le Pen accused “arrogant” French president Emmanuel Macron of treating her with contempt in yesterday’s televised debate where the pair went head-to-head.

The fiery clash came ahead of the second- round run-off vote on Sunday and pushed Mr Macron ahead of his rival in the opinion polls.


Speaking after the debate, Ms Le Pen complained about Mr Macron’s conduct as the French President frequently interrupted and talked over her.

The National Rally (Rassemblement National) party leader said: “I had in front of me an Emmanuel Macron who was true to himself — very contemptuous, very arrogant, even in his physical posture.”

National Rally (Rassemblement National) party leader Marine Le Pen
National Rally (Rassemblement National) party leader Marine Le Pen
CHARLES PLATIAU

Speaking in Roye, a town in the Somme region she added: "That will have surprised none of the French people who have suffered this arrogance and contempt for the past five years."

Despite Mr Macron coming out on top, uncertainty about the final result remains high as an unprecedented amount of people are expected to not vote.

In the debate, Mr Macron also slammed her as unfit to replace him because of her connections to Moscow.

He said: “War is raging on the continent.

“Times are very dangerous indeed. Russia is strengthening its offensive, and this will lead to more human disasters.”

Ms Le Pen used the discussion to reiterate her plans to ban headscarves if she assumed office, but Mr Macron warned such a move could spark a “civil war”.

She said: “I'm telling it in a very clear manner: I think the headscarf is a uniform imposed by Islamists.

“I think a great proportion of young women who are wearing it have no other choice in reality.”

Mr Macron responded by saying: “What you're saying is very serious. You are going to cause a civil war. I say this sincerely.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, candidate for his re-election, and French far-right Rassemblement National party presidential candidate Marine Le Pen sit prior to taking part in a French presidential election debate, in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France April 20, 2022. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS
French President Emmanuel Macron and Rassemblement National party presidential candidate Marine Le Pen
Reuters

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