Tuesday saw the second live television debate as French presidential candidates went head to head just 19 days before the election.
The centrist Emmanuel Macron remains the favourite to win the election. He clashed sharply with National Front party leader Le Pen, another popular candidate.
“Nationalism is war. I know it. I come from a region that is full of graveyards.” Macron told Le Pen.
“You shouldn’t pretend to be something new when you are speaking like old fossils that are at least 50 years old.” Le Pen hit back at Macron.
“Sorry to tell you this, Madame Le Pen, but you are saying the same lies that we’ve heard from your father for 40 years.” Macron replied, in reference to Marine Le Pen’s father and her failure to clean up the party image.
Nationalist right-wing outsider Francois Asselineau also criticised Le Pen, saying that he was “the only true candidate of Frexit” and promised viewers that if he were voted into power, the would trigger Article 50 immediately.
Things got heated at the ten presidential candidates spoke at the second of three televised debates. Despite criticisms from other candidates, Le Pen insisted that if she were voted French President, she would improve the lives of French citizens.
Looking at the polls following the televised debate, it appears that the leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon was considered the most convincing performer.
After Melenchon stood Macron, Francois Fillon and Le Pen in fourth place.
Most surveys consistently show Macron and Le Pen qualifying for the May 7 runoff and Macron winning it. However, there is still a high level if undecided voters which will mean the final result will remain unpredictable.
The first round of voting will be on 23 April. Unless one candidate wins more over 50 percent of the vote, the two leading people will go to the second round on 7 May.