PARIS | The two opponents for the French presidential election Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, still on the ground on Tuesday, strive to detail and justify their respective programs, in particular on social issues and the thorny subject of pensions.
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The incumbent, centrist president and his far-right rival, engaged in a tough battle for the undecided ballot on April 24, are trying to broaden their electoral base, particularly among voters who are very courted by the leader of the radical left Jean- Luc Mélenchon, came third with 21.95% of the vote.
The two contenders clash on the ground of purchasing power, the number one concern of the French, and pension reform.
Already assailed all day Monday on his retirement age project at 65, Emmanuel Macron ended up sending a strong signal to the popular electorate by saying he was ready to “move” on this totem of his program, half-opening the gate at a starting age of 64.
An unexpected concession thirteen days before the second round, but still vague, the outgoing president promising to clarify his position in the days to come.
The pension reform, Emmanuel Macron’s flagship project, had led to strong protest and strikes in 2019, before being frozen due to the health crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Traveling to Mulhouse, a city in eastern France which voted 36% for Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Mr. Macron was again challenged on social issues: hospital, pensions, poverty, young people. He reiterated his promise to raise the minimum pension to 1,100 euros and to make the calculation and payment of social assistance automatic.
The outgoing president garnered the support of former right-wing president Nicolas Sarkozy and former socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin on Tuesday.
Emmanuel Macron is “the only one in a position to act”, wrote Mr. Sarkozy on Facebook, invoking “loyalty to the values of the Republican right” and “the valuation of work” by the outgoing president.
Mr. Jospin justified his choice by the need to “dismiss” Marine Le Pen.
“No trust at all”
In the campaign in Vernon, in the west, the far-right candidate for her part returned to her project of “referendum revolution”. “We must stop considering the French people as an enemy”, launched Ms. Le Pen, who wants to submit a change of constitution to a referendum and include the concept of “national priority” and the primacy of national law over international law.
It also intends to prohibit the wearing of the veil in public space and punish it with a fine.
In the morning on France Inter radio, Ms. Le Pen had again attacked her rival on the issue of pensions. Mr. Macron “will go to the end of his obsession” on retirement at 65 if he is re-elected, assured the far-right candidate, who defends the maintenance of retirement at 62.
“I have no confidence in Emmanuel Macron, but none, and even less ten days before the second round” of the presidential election, she said Tuesday morning, referring to the possible concessions of the outgoing president.
Anxious to smooth her image even if her program, particularly on immigration, remains radical, the candidate of the National Rally also wanted on France Inter to stand out from Eric Zemmour, the former ultra-radical polemicist who obtained 7% of the voice and called to vote for her, rejecting the possibility that he would be part of the government if she entered the Élysée.