Macron legally slaps Le Pen

HE LAYS OFFICIAL COMPLAINT

French centrist Emmanuel Macron sought to cement his frontrunner status yesterday on the last day of campaigning for the weekend’s election run-off after a bruising and divisive race.

Pro-European Macron and farright anti-immigration candidate Marine Le Pen have offered starkly different visions for France during a campaign that has been closely watched in Europe and the rest of the world.

And the battle has only increased in intensity in the final days after a bad-tempered debate, with Macron filing a legal complaint over rumours he has an offshore account. Le Pen repeated the rumours during Wednesday’s TV debate.

Both candidates plan high-profile television appearances on the final day as they seek to win over voters, with polls suggesting the 39-year-old Macron has a 20-point lead over his opponent.

At a final rally on Thursday in the northern village of Ennemain, Le Pen told supporters she would give them back the keys to the Elysee Palace. “France cannot wait five more years to hold its head high,” she said.

Earlier in the western town of Dol-de-Bretagne, protesters threw eggs at her entourage.

During a final rally in the southwest town of Albi, Macron told supporters: “We will keep our promise of change to the end.”

But the former economy minister came under fire from dozens of union activists demanding the abolition of France’s controversial 2016 labour reforms. – AFP