France’s liberal head of state Emmanuel Macron has accused his right-wing opponent Marine Le Pen of making himself dependent on Russia. “You depend on Russian power and you depend on Mr. Putin,” Macron said on Wednesday evening in the only TV debate between the two presidential candidates ahead of Sunday’s runoff. “You don’t talk to other leaders, you talk to your banker when you talk about Russia,” Macron reproached Le Pen.
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Macron is referring to a loan that Le Pen took out in 2014 from a Czech-Russian bank. She defended herself by pointing out that French banks would not authorize her such financial assistance. “Don’t you think that’s scandalous?” Le Pen replied, speaking of the banks’ democratic deficit.
Le Pen also said: “I am an absolutely and totally free woman.” Macron accused her of having prevented her party from obtaining a loan in France in 2015 as Minister. Macron replied that nobody intervened at the time. He was also Minister of Economics, banks were not part of his area of responsibility.
Macron also emphasized France’s anchoring in the European Union and made a commitment to Franco-German cooperation. “I believe in Europe and I believe in the Franco-German couple. I think it is the Franco-German couple that has enabled us to reach agreements.” The President accused Le Pen of wanting to leave the EU without making it clear. Le Pen said there is no European sovereignty because there is no European people. “I defend the Europe of nations.” She doesn’t want to leave the EU, if that were the case she would say so. You are concerned with changes in the Union. (dpa)
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