Le Pen lobs Trump-like attack on media

French far-right leader accuses journalists of ‘campaigning hysterically’ for Macron

Paris: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen 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.

Le Pen, speaking at a rally in the western city of Nantes on Sunday, launched a series of attacks on the 39-year-old independent who has emerged as a frontrunner to become France’s next leader.

She accused the ex-economy min- ister 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.

“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,” she said to cheers.

Two new polls published showed Le Pen still winning the first round of the election on April 23, with 27%, but Macron closing the gap on her with 25%.

In the run-off vote set for May 7, despite her belief that Trump’s victory and Brexit point to a revival of nationalism and anti-elite movements like hers, Le Pen would lose by 20 points to Macron if it were held today, 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 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 candidate Jean-Luc 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,” Hamon told TF1 television on Sunday night, announcing the setback after managing to secure a tie-up with environmentalist candidate Yannick Jadot. — AFP