Emmanuel Macron says he is “ready to debate” with Marine Le Pen before the European elections

Emmanuel Macron says to himself “ready to debate now” with Marine Le Pen, president of the National Rally (RN) group in the National Assembly, with a view to the European elections of June 9, a vote in which, according to him, “part of the destiny of France”in an interview given to Parisian published Saturday May 25.

“If we think that this is an election where part of the destiny of France is at stake, which I believe, we must debate. I am at his disposal. The ball is in his court “declared the Head of State, interviewed on board the plane which brought him back from New Caledonia. “After the election, this debate will no longer be of interest: I am President of the Republic”he continues.

“If the President of the Republic, who is the head of state and not the leader of the majority, enters the electoral arena, then he must undertake to draw the consequences”Marine Le Pen immediately reacted, https://twitter.com/MLP_officiel/status/1794378448556920867. “I will therefore debate against Emmanuel Macron if he puts on the table his resignation or the dissolution of the National Assembly in the event of failure of the Renaissance list. »

“Look at them closely!” »

She had previously said she was open to a face-to-face meeting – a repeat of those which took place between the two rounds of the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections – but only after the European elections, ” in September “.

The possibility of a debate between the president of the National Rally group in the Assembly and the President of the Republic had been mentioned in recent days in the press, while the Macronist list led by Valérie Hayer is largely behind in the polls by that of the RN.

According to various opinion surveys, the National Rally receives 30% to 33% of voting intentions two weeks before the election, ahead of the Macronist majority at around 16% and the PS-Place Publique list of Raphaël Glucksmann, given between 14%. and 15%.

But, “I never believed in polls. We’ll see on June 9 »said the Head of State, however urging the French to be wary of Lepenist candidates: “Wake up and take a close look at them!” »

“What strikes me is how much this political party changes its mind all the time. They wanted to leave the euro. Then they said they would not apply the treaties. There, they don’t say anything about that anymore. It’s crazy ! (…) Like in New Caledonia… For years, they told people: “With us, you will remain French, the electorate will be completely unfrozen.” And there, they no longer even want to respect the Nouméa agreements! When it gets hot, they turn around”he adds.

Raphaël Glucksmann, head of the Socialist Party-Public Square list, for his part criticized the presidential majority of “kidnap the election” by “a deadly face-to-face” with the extreme right. Thursday evening’s debate between Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Jordan Bardella “was a democratic failure. (…) The French are not fooled, they no longer want this deadly face-to-face for French democracy”declared Mr. Glucksmann, on the sidelines of a meeting in Brest, believing that the country was being led “by people playing with matches at a gas station”.

“To thwart a list which is today in third position, they are ready to permanently raise the extreme right, to stage the fact that M^me Le Pen would be the only opposition to the current power”, he added. Raphaël Glucksmann’s PS-Place Publique list is given third position in the polls, almost on par with that of Valérie Hayer, but far behind that of the National Rally.