On LCI, Sunday May 26, Edouard Philippe criticized the hypothesis of a debate between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen before the European election vote.
Emmanuel Macron mentioned this possibility the day before in an interview with Le Parisien.
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European Elections 2024
Should a President of the Republic debate in the middle of an electoral campaign? Not for Edouard Philippe. Sunday May 26, on LCI, the former Prime Minister expressed doubts about Emmanuel Macron’s proposal, mentioned the day before in an interview with Parisianto debate with Marine Le Pen before the European elections on June 9.
“For the Prime Minister, who is the leader of the majority, to discuss with the leader of a party, that does not seem scandalous to me”he explained about the Attal-Bardella debate which took place this week. “For the Head of State to explain that, in an electoral context, he intends to debate with a political figure, that is more surprising. I don’t know if it’s necessary. Not sure that I would have imagined spontaneously that it was a good idea”, estimated Edouard Philippe.
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Europeans: Macron says he is “ready to debate now” with Le Pen, she sets her conditions
“Removing ambiguities” from the RN
“I am ready to debate now with Ms. Le Pen”declared Emmanuel Macron in an interview with Parisianpublished Saturday. “If we think that this is an election where part of the destiny of France is at stake, which I believe, we must debate”he underlined, affirming to be at the “arrangement” by Marine Le Pen. The person concerned quickly responded, conditioning such a debate on the fact that Emmanuel Macron weighs his resignation in the event of defeats in the European elections.
The president, on a state visit to Germany this Sunday, responded at the same time to criticism of this debate proposal. “I am not a candidate for the European elections. And therefore, I do not seek to debate in pluralism with all the candidates for the European elections, the head of the list of the presidential majority does it and will do it again”insisted the French president.
“On the other hand, unlike many, I cannot accept the idea that the National Rally would be a party like the others”added the head of state. “I consider that [face à] this party, which through its ideas threatens Europe, precisely because it is anti-European by construction and nationalism, it is the responsibility of the President of the Republic to remove these ambiguities”said Emmanuel Macron. “It is in this context that I proposed this debate.”
