Macron dominates, Le Pen fails to win support in historic French presidential debate
Poll shows Le Pen to be the fourth-most-convincing candidate, while Macron is expected to win the election in second round
Paris — French presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron attacked far-right leader Marine Le Pen over her economic policy and plans to scrap the euro on Tuesday night in an unprecedented debate between all 11 contenders ahead of this month’s election. The discussion was at times chaotic and dominated by the anti-capitalist and virulently anti-EU smaller candidates who made their first major appearance ahead of the first round of the two-stage vote on April 23. The most telling clash between the frontrunners came at the end of the first section when 39-year-old Macron took on what is considered one of Le Pen’s vulnerabilities — her plans to scrap the euro and revert to the franc. A snap poll on Wednesday showed Le Pen to be the fourth-most-convincing candidate, trailing rising far-left rival Jean-Luc Melenchon, Macron and conservative Francois Fillon. Another poll showed her behind Macron in the first round of the presidential election in April. Macron is seen easily winning the secon...
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