Macron files case over Le Pen’s claims
French presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron filed a legal complaint on Thursday after his far-right rival Marine Le Pen repeated online rumours that he had an offshore account in the Bahamas during one of the fiercest TV debates in the nation’s history.
The pro-eu centrist Macron and Le Pen clashed repeatedly over terrorism, the economy and Europe in Wednesday’s hot-tempered debate watched by some 16.5 million people.
“I hope that we will not find out that you have an offshore account in the Bahamas,” Le Pen said during the ferocious confrontation that was her last chance to claw back the gap before Sunday’s runoff voter. Macron described the suggestion as “defamation”.
A source close to the case said the 39-year-old ex-economy minister’s complaint targeted “information that circulated Wednesday night on the internet”.
Macron’s campaign team said the rumours began circulating two hours before the debate started.
Speaking on France Inter radio Thursday, the centrist, pro-eu candidate characterised the insinuations as “fake news and lies” from “sites, some of which were linked to Russian interests”.
“We will not hesitate to prosecute for defamation anyone who repeats this false information,” an aide to Macron said.
Former US president Barack Obama threw his support behind Macron, saying in a video the candidate “appeals to people’s hopes and not their fears.”
Obama said Macron had “put forward a vision for the important role that France plays in Europe and around the world” and added “Vive la France!”
The candidates were back at each other’s throats the day after the debate in which Le Pen branded Macron “the candidate of the elite” while he called her “the high priestess of fear”.