Le Pen blasts media as Macron jumps in polls
Paris, Feb. 27: French farright leader Marine Le Pen on Sunday accused the media of “campaigning hysterically” in favour of Emmanuel Macron, her centrist rival for the presidency, as polls showed him enjoying a jump in support.
Ms Le Pen, speaking at a rally in the western city of Nantes, launched a series of attacks on the 39-yearold independent who has emerged as a frontrunner to become France’s next leader.
She accused the ex-economy minister of wanting to create a “migrant motorway” between France and north Africa, adding that “financial interests and their intermediaries in the media” had clearly taken his side.
In an attack that recalled US President Donald Trump’s confrontation with journalists, she added: “The media have chosen their candidate. They are campaigning hysterically for their darling,” she said.
Ms Le Pen added, “They take the moral high ground, pretend to only analyse the facts and then shout about the freedom of the press as soon as you criticise them.”
Two new polls published on Sunday showed Ms Le Pen still winning the first round of the election on April 23 with 27 per cent, but Mr Macron closing the gap on her with 25 per cent. In the run-off vote set for The media have chosen their candidate. They are campaigning hysterically for their darling (Emmanuel Macron). They take the moral high ground, pretend to only analyse the facts and then shout about the freedom of the press Marine Le Pen, May 7, despite her belief that Mr Trump’s victory and Brexit point to a revival of nationalism and anti-elite movements like hers, Ms Le Pen would lose by 20 points to Mr Macron if it were held on Monday, the polls suggested.
Analysts urge caution about making firm forecasts, however, after a series of political shocks in Western democracies in the last year and a string of surprises in French politics.
The new polling was done immediately after Mr Macron sealed an electoral alliance with fellow centrist Francois Bayrou last Wednesday — removing a potential rival just as increasing numbers of backers from the Socialist party and the centre-right are also trickling in.
Communist-backed JeanLuc Melenchon, meanwhile, ruled out striking a similar deal with Socialist Benoit Hamon, which the French left had hoped could allow them to mount a serious challenge.
“He confirmed to me what I already knew, which is that he is running,” Mr Hamon told TF1 television on Sunday.