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| French election: Macron 'most convincing' in final debate | French election: Macron 'most convincing' in final debate |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron was more impressive than rival Marine Le Pen in Wednesday evening's final TV debate, a viewers' poll says. | French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron was more impressive than rival Marine Le Pen in Wednesday evening's final TV debate, a viewers' poll says. |
| The candidates traded insults for more than two hours, arguing over terrorism, the economy, and Europe. | The candidates traded insults for more than two hours, arguing over terrorism, the economy, and Europe. |
| The French broadcaster BFMTV found voters had a more favourable view of Mr Macron than Ms Le Pen in most categories. | The French broadcaster BFMTV found voters had a more favourable view of Mr Macron than Ms Le Pen in most categories. |
| He was the "most convincing" of the pair in the opinion of 63% of viewers. | He was the "most convincing" of the pair in the opinion of 63% of viewers. |
| Ms Le Pen lambasted her rival for his finance and government background, accusing him of being "the candidate of savage globalisation" and said his version of France "is a trading room, where it will be everyone fighting for themselves". | Ms Le Pen lambasted her rival for his finance and government background, accusing him of being "the candidate of savage globalisation" and said his version of France "is a trading room, where it will be everyone fighting for themselves". |
| In turn, Mr Macron said the National Front leader had openly lied, proposed nothing, and exaggerated the concerns of the public. | |
| "The high priestess of fear is sitting before me," he said. | "The high priestess of fear is sitting before me," he said. |
| Both candidates were hoping to make an impression on the estimated 18% of undecided voters in the first election the country has ever held without a candidate from the two traditional mainstream parties. | Both candidates were hoping to make an impression on the estimated 18% of undecided voters in the first election the country has ever held without a candidate from the two traditional mainstream parties. |
| The second round run-off between the pair takes place on Sunday. | The second round run-off between the pair takes place on Sunday. |
| Analysis: Hugh Schofield, BBC Paris correspondent | Analysis: Hugh Schofield, BBC Paris correspondent |
| This turned into a tense, at times incendiary exchange between two leaders with starkly opposing ideas about the road France needs to take. | This turned into a tense, at times incendiary exchange between two leaders with starkly opposing ideas about the road France needs to take. |
| Marine Le Pen, who lags badly in the opinion polls, had clearly decided that the best tactic was to launch a full-frontal attack on Emmanuel Macron. | Marine Le Pen, who lags badly in the opinion polls, had clearly decided that the best tactic was to launch a full-frontal attack on Emmanuel Macron. |
| Constantly throughout the debate she threw insults and allegations at him, accusing him of being part of the discredited existing order. | Constantly throughout the debate she threw insults and allegations at him, accusing him of being part of the discredited existing order. |
| But there was little substance to her attacks, and over and again Emmanuel Macron was able to expose the weaknesses in her arguments - especially over the economy and the euro. | But there was little substance to her attacks, and over and again Emmanuel Macron was able to expose the weaknesses in her arguments - especially over the economy and the euro. |
| The debate will have done nothing to alter his position as clear favourite in Sunday's vote. | The debate will have done nothing to alter his position as clear favourite in Sunday's vote. |
| The BFMTV poll found that Mr Macron was deemed the "most convincing" during the television debate for two-thirds of those who voted for both left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the first round, and for 58% of those who voted for Republican François Fillon. | The BFMTV poll found that Mr Macron was deemed the "most convincing" during the television debate for two-thirds of those who voted for both left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the first round, and for 58% of those who voted for Republican François Fillon. |
| Mr Macron also led among voters when they were asked about which candidate was most honest, most aligned with the voters' values, and who had the best plans. | Mr Macron also led among voters when they were asked about which candidate was most honest, most aligned with the voters' values, and who had the best plans. |
| It was carried out among 1,314 people over the age of 18 who watched the debate. | It was carried out among 1,314 people over the age of 18 who watched the debate. |
| Insults and issues | Insults and issues |
| Mr Macron already enjoys a lead in the opinion polls, which predict he will pull in about 59% of votes. | Mr Macron already enjoys a lead in the opinion polls, which predict he will pull in about 59% of votes. |
| But Ms Le Pen hammered him on his record during the key debate. | But Ms Le Pen hammered him on his record during the key debate. |
| On unemployment, which stands at around 10% nationally, Mr Macron acknowledged that the country had not tackled the problem - and Ms Le Pen asked why he had not handled it during his recent time as economy minister. | |
| She also accused him of complacency about the threat of radical Islamist terrorism. "Security and terrorism are major issues that are completely missing from your programme," she said. | |
| But in response, Mr Macron said the measures she proposed - "eradicating" Islamic fundamentalism by shutting down extremist mosques, and expelling preachers of hate - played into terrorists' hands and the desire they have for a "a civil war". | But in response, Mr Macron said the measures she proposed - "eradicating" Islamic fundamentalism by shutting down extremist mosques, and expelling preachers of hate - played into terrorists' hands and the desire they have for a "a civil war". |
| They also clashed on the future of the European Union, where they have clearly opposed views. | They also clashed on the future of the European Union, where they have clearly opposed views. |
| Ms Le Pen has said she would call for an in-out referendum on EU membership, and in recent days declared the euro currency finished. | |
| During the debate, she said she would restore France's national currency and give companies and banks an option on which currency to pay in - a proposal which Mr Macron labelled "nonsense". | During the debate, she said she would restore France's national currency and give companies and banks an option on which currency to pay in - a proposal which Mr Macron labelled "nonsense". |
| "How can a big company pay in euros on one hand and pay its employees in another currency?" he asked. | "How can a big company pay in euros on one hand and pay its employees in another currency?" he asked. |
| Wednesday night's debate marked the last time the two candidates faced each other before Sunday's vote. | Wednesday night's debate marked the last time the two candidates faced each other before Sunday's vote. |
| Just two days of campaigning remain before reporting restrictions come into force late on Friday evening - and remain in place until polls close on Sunday. | Just two days of campaigning remain before reporting restrictions come into force late on Friday evening - and remain in place until polls close on Sunday. |
| Poll tracker | Poll tracker |