French presidential debate disappoints, like candidates and their campaigns

Ramin Mazaheri
Press TV, Paris

Many predicted that the French presidential election would hinge on the debate between incumbent Emmanuel Macron and his far-right rival, Marine Le Pen.

However, a dull three-hour face-off doesn’t appear to have added any clarity to a race marked by disinterest and disappointment.

The only debate between France’s two presidential candidates is being described in terms very similar to the entire election campaign: unexpected, uninteresting and unsatisfying.

In 2017, Macron and Le Pen had provided constant fireworks, but in 2022, the two essentially far-right candidates seem to have few disagreements with each other.

After spending the last five years as a parliamentarian in France’s National Assembly, Le Pen appeared far more mainstream. It’s possible that her strategy was to present herself as poised and presidential to win over voters.

Macron, on the other hand, was in the attacking mode most of the night, portraying Le Pen as the candidate of the Kremlin and unprepared to hold the coveted chair.

The fiery debate doesn’t seem to have convinced voters to switch sides: Macron continues to lead polls by an average of around 54 to 46%.

Many were surprised that Le Pen didn’t spend more time attacking Macron’s record. She did conclude by promising to end five years of “permanent confrontation” but she only mentioned the Yellow Vests twice in a three-hour debate.

Macron is being criticized as arrogant and professorial, but many have praised his attacks on the longtime figurehead of the rebranded National Front.

The only debate in a lackluster campaign featuring controversial, retread candidates - the prevailing sentiment is that voters have been left wanting more, and many would add, wanting better. The runoff vote is slated for April 24.

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