A week before the first round of the French presidential election, President Macron has held his first and probably only major campaign rally. In a large rugby stadium in Nanterre, near Paris, he promised purchasing power support and more social justice.
“People who work should not spend their entire salary on fuel and shopping, that is unfair,” said Macron, who is running for a second term. He promised employees a tax-free purchasing power bonus of up to 6,000 euros. Companies can pay this bonus tax-free to their employees.
He also promised more money to the self-employed. So far, his government has already invested 20 billion euros in lowering electricity and gas prices.
Firework
There were about 35,000 supporters in the stadium, who reacted frantic when Macron was greeted with fireworks on the podium. He also presented plans for improving health care.
Furthermore, as far as he is concerned, the minimum pension, with full employment, should be increased to 1,100 euros per month. He did, however, say he wants to stick to raising the retirement age from 62 to 65, a plan that unions have been balking at for years.
Le Pen
Migration, education, health care and purchasing power are the main themes in the presidential elections. Macron leads the polls. His main challenger, Marine Le Pen of the right-wing populist Rassemblement National, is on the rise. The first round is next Sunday, April 10. The second round, between the two candidates with the most votes, will follow two weeks later.
This video explains the French elections:
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