Macron, barely campaigning, leads French presidential race

PARIS (AP) — Drained-looking. Unshaven. Sporting denims and a hoodie. As he runs for re-election subsequent month, French President Emmanuel Macron launched uncommon footage of himself working nights and weekends on the Elysee palace, the place he’s spending most of his time specializing in the struggle in Ukraine — whereas avoiding conventional marketing campaign actions.

If it’s a marketing campaign technique it appears to be paying off, reinforcing his place of frontrunner within the presidential race whereas making it tough for different contenders to problem him.

Macron was criticized by different candidates for refusing to participate in any televised debate earlier than the primary spherical, scheduled on April 10.

He promised to reply at size journalists’ questions in a information convention on Thursday afternoon — an effort to point out he’s not avoiding tough points, his entourage mentioned.

The centrist is anticipated to unveil his proposals for the following 5 years, together with a controversial pension reform to lift the retirement age from 62 to 65.

A authorities official concerned in Macron’s marketing campaign mentioned the president desires to “reply to criticism. He’ll absolutely be campaigning” within the coming days.

Regardless that he formally introduced he’s operating for a second time period at first of the month, Macron has not held any rallies but.

In current days, he pushed for a cease-fire in cellphone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and spoke on an virtually each day foundation with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Final week, he gathered EU leaders on the Versailles palace, west of Paris, to debate sanctions in opposition to Russia. France holds the rotating presidency of the European Union Council, which provides Macron a key function in coordinating the bloc of 27’s response.

Subsequent week, he’s anticipated to be seen alongside U.S. President Joe Biden, who’s to come back to Brussels for a NATO summit.

Pollster Bernard Sananes, president of ballot institute Elabe, mentioned that “clearly the worldwide scenario is reinforcing his stature.”

“It gives the look that Macron in 2017 has been elected on a promise to resume (politics) and that Macron in 2022 desires to be elected on the promise of (having) expertise,” he mentioned in an interview with French newspaper L’Opinion. Polls present a majority of French individuals, whether or not they intend to vote for him or not, think about he’s as much as the job, he confused.

Polls see Macron about 10 share factors forward of far-right contender Marine Le Pen, inserting them each able to succeed in the runoff and replay the 2017 election. They present that in that case the French president is extensively anticipated to win.

One other far-right candidate, Eric Zemmour, far-left determine Jean-Luc Mélenchon, and conservative contender Valérie Pécresse are amid different key challengers.

Rivals have accused Macron of specializing in the scenario in Ukraine to keep away from talking about home points which can show extra difficult for him.

Le Pen mentioned Macron is “utilizing the struggle in Ukraine to scare French individuals, as a result of he thinks scaring can profit him.”

“When there’s a struggle, there’s a reflex to be legitimist,” Pécresse mentioned. “Folks suppose: there’s a captain main the operation … We should not be afraid to alter the captain on April 11,” she added.

Advocates for Macron argue that the scenario in Ukraine includes key home points which might be being absolutely debated within the marketing campaign, like power and protection insurance policies.

Political historical past skilled Jean Garrigues confused the “unifying” affect across the head of state in a war-related scenario. He recalled that the identical impact was noticeable when Macron’s predecessor, Francois Hollande, launched a army operation in Mali to drive Islamic extremists from energy.

Earlier than him, France’s biggest figures have confirmed their management in conditions of struggle — from Napoleon to Charles de Gaulle. “French public opinion may be very a lot rooted in that historical past,” Garrigues advised the AP.

Due to this fact, “we will see that Macron’s adversaries haven’t any expertise equal to the presidential operate, and even as key ministers, and are de facto in a scenario of inferiority,” he famous.

Pollsters mentioned Macron’s biggest problem because the frontrunner could also be a low turnout, with sympathizers not going to polling stations as a result of they suppose he’ll win, whereas these indignant at his insurance policies would additional mobilize.

Macron himself acknowledged the chance in a behind-the-scenes video posted on his marketing campaign’s Youtube channel. “That’s what I’m going to inform the French, and likewise my supporters: In the event that they suppose it’s finished, it means we’ve misplaced,” he mentioned.

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