- No clear winner emerged from the first presidential debate held at Roland-Garros, featuring seven candidates including front-runner Marine Le Pen.
- Marine Le Pen pledged to cut spending, repay debt, and reduce EU contributions by €5 billion during the debate.
- Jean-Luc Melenchon proposed scrapping business subsidies and stated he would 'disobey' EU rules if elected.
- Gabriel Attal and Edouard Philippe pitched themselves as debt hawks but faced rebukes over the debt accumulated during Macron's presidency.
- With eight months to go before the election, the race remains wide open.
- An opinion poll by OpinionWay for MEDEF revealed that 82% of business owners are pessimistic about the next president's economic impact.
- The debate was organized by MEDEF, France's main business lobby, and included key candidates like Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon.
No clear winner emerged from the first debate among seven French presidential candidates, held at Roland-Garros, as they tackled pressing economic issues.1
Marine Le Pen, the far-right frontrunner, aimed to win over business leaders by promising to restore public finances, stating, "The government must drastically cut its spending." She pledged to implement €125 billion in savings through cuts to immigration spending and reducing France's EU contributions.239
In contrast, hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon proposed to "chuck" some of France's debt, while Le Pen emphasized her commitment to repay it. The debate, organized by MEDEF, revealed the candidates' differing strategies as they prepare for the election next April.45
An opinion poll indicated that 82% of business owners are pessimistic about the next president's economic policies. Le Pen's economic program details are expected soon, as she faces skepticism from business leaders regarding her economic credentials.8
The debate's format, with seven candidates sharing the stage, made it difficult to identify a clear winner, as tensions rose over accusations of dangerous proposals regarding debt and pensions.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's government is set to announce its 2027 deficit target soon, amid concerns about France's fiscal health, which currently includes a 117% debt-to-GDP ratio.
As the election approaches, candidates are jockeying for position, with Le Pen's proposals drawing both support and criticism from her rivals.
“An OpinionWay poll for MEDEF found 82% of business owners pessimistic about the next president's economic impact. Le Pen pledged €125 billion in savings, including cutting immigration spending and reducing EU contributions, while Melenchon proposed scrapping business subsidies.”
politico.eu
