Macron knows ‘nothing’s won yet’
French presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron this week rejected accusations that he was resting on his laurels after winning the first round of the election in the race against the far right’s Marine Le Pen.
“Nothing’s won yet,” Macron said during a visit to a hospital near Paris on Tuesday.
Earlier, President François Hollande appeared to admonish his former economy minister for not taking the fight to Le Pen. “We need to be extremely serious and mobilised, and not to think it’s a done deal, because a vote is earned, it’s fought for,” said Hollande, who on Monday urged voters to back Macron and called Le Pen a “risk” for France.
The 39-year-old centrist said his victory on Sunday was proof that pollsters, who had long placed him second to Le Pen in the opening round, can “get it wrong”.
After winning Sunday’s contest with 24.1% to Le Pen’s 21.3%, Macron gave an exuberant victory speech followed by a high-profile celebration at a famous Paris bistro, drawing fire from some.
Macron defended the bistro gathering in a France 2 television interview on Tuesday evening. “I take full responsibility,” he said, adding that his guests were mostly campaigners who deserved a night out after a year of tireless work.
Since securing her berth in the runoff, Le Pen has turbo-charged her campaign with a string of appearances and statements, leaving her opponent on the back foot.
In contrast, her opponent has huddled in strategy meetings about the June legislative elections that will determine the shape of a future Macron government.
Polls suggest that Macron will trounce Le Pen in the runoff with a margin of about 20 points.
But, after the political shocks of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union and Donald Trump’s unlikely ascent to the White House, analysts say a late surge by Le Pen is still possible.
Le Pen said on Monday that she was quitting temporarily as head of her National Front (FN) party to concentrate on the campaign.
The move was seen as largely symbolic but one that would loosen her association with the FN, the party founded by her father, Jean-Marie le Pen, who is notorious for anti-Semitic and xenophobic remarks.
Earlier on Tuesday, the two candidates attended a ceremony honouring a policeman killed last week in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. The rivals stood grimfaced among mourners as Xavier Jugele’s partner delivered a moving eulogy.
Macron and Le Pen differ starkly on how to protect France. Le Pen wants France to take back control of its borders from the EU and deport all foreigners on a terror watchlist. Macron has urged voters not to “give in to fear” and vowed to step up security co-operation with EU partners.
The two are scheduled to meet in a TV debate on May 3. — AFP