The debate was announced as decisive five days before the first round of the legislative elections. Certainly, he was sometimes lively but also quite conventional. Without taking any risks, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, the president of the National Rally Jordan Bardella and the coordinator of La France insoumise Manuel Bompard rolled out their proposals, Tuesday June 25, during a confrontation lasting one hour and forty-five minutes organized by TF1. They expressed three irreconcilable visions.
For the three officials, the debate was a question of credibility. Gabriel Attal, 35 years old, prime minister in office, was at stake, at the same time as the survival of Macronism, of his maintenance in Matignon, while Jordan Bardella, 28 years old, aimed for his succession, presenting himself as the face of a “reasonable and responsible alternation”Manuel Bompard, 38, less well-known than his competitors and with no ambition to be prime minister, was careful to hold the line of a left that had recently united in the New Popular Front.
“Making people believe in the moon”
The first battle took place on the question of purchasing power, at the top of the French’s concerns and a strong determinant of their vote. From the outset, Jordan Bardella appeared as “the prime minister of purchasing power”, developing his promise of an immediate reduction in VAT to 5.5% on fuel, electricity and gas. For his part, Manuel Bompard defended a measure to block prices on energy, fuel and a basket of basic necessities. “The difference with my competitors is that I’m not going to make the French believe in the moon”replied Gabriel Attal, while the discussion heated up on the financing of the proposals.
The increase in the minimum wage to €1,600 net, recommended by the left, gave rise to a second round of fighting. “If you increase the minimum wage and the index point for civil servants by 10%, you will trigger a virtuous circle in the French economy”estimated Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s lieutenant. “It’s a job-destroying machine”replied Gabriel Attal, for whom this “will stifle employers” small businesses. The three men then clashed, sometimes in a confusing manner, on the question of pensions. Jordan Bardella and Manuel Bompard wanted to return to the reform raising the legal age of departure to 64 years. Refusing its repeal, Gabriel Attal judged their “not credible proposals”.
Another subject of friction: taxes. The Prime Minister reaffirmed that the presidential coalition “will continue not to increase taxes on the French”. For Manuel Bompard, however, “The question is: who should pay more and who should pay less? » The LFI coordinator explained that he wanted “more slices (14 instead of 5, Editor’s note) so that there is more progressivity”. For his part, Jordan Bardella, who has repeatedly pointed out public accounts “made up”asserted: “I will not increase taxes and I will be the prime minister of fiscal peace. »
The president of the RN notably said he wanted “exempt young people under 30 from income tax”. Gabriel Attal immediately joked about a model “where you don’t pay tax until age 30 and you stop working at age 60”while Manuel Bompard criticized Jordan Bardella “a capture of resources and means from the poorest 30% to give them to the richest 10%”.
Clash over dual nationals
After an hour of discussions, the debaters reached the question of immigration. The day after the presentation of the RN program, Jordan Bardella confirmed that he wanted “take back control” of immigration, worrying about “demographic bombs” on the African continent. He attacked Manuel Bompard: “With Jean-Luc Mélenchon as Prime Minister, we will open the floodgates of immigration. » Before being taken to task by Gabriel Attal.
While the leader of the far right wants to prevent dual nationals from occupying certain positions considered strategic, the Prime Minister estimated that “3.5 million dual-national French people felt insulted and humiliated” by this measure. “You want to put a Franco-Russian in charge of a nuclear power plant? “, said Jordan Bardella to Gabriel Attal. The head of government then recalled that his opponent had a Franco-Russian as advisor to the European Parliament. “who attends closed meetings with confidential information about the war in Ukraine”.
The three leaders also spoke about the subjects of ecological transition, security, justice, schools and health, but had to abandon international issues due to lack of time. In conclusion, Jordan Bardella and Manuel Bompard called, in the same terms, for “turn the page on macronism” while Gabriel Attal estimated that Francehad “meet with your values and your destiny” June 30 and July 7.
Find, as soon as they are officially published, the results of the 1st round of the 2024 legislative elections, municipality by municipality.
