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Transcript/Script France/Elections-Preview (TV)
HEADLINE: Macron Fights to Keep Lead Ahead of Sunday’s First-Round Presidential Election in France
TEASER: Narrowing polls suggest another runoff between Macron and far-right leader Le Pen
PUBLISHED AT: 04/07/2022 at 7:03 p.m.
BYLINE: Lisa Bryant
DATELINE: Paris
VIDEOGRAPHER: Lisa Bryant
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: BR, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, AFP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 3:37
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
(INTRO))
[[Voters in France head to the polls Sunday (April 10) for the first of a two-round election that could see centrist President Emmanuel Macron become the first French leader to win a second term in nearly two decades. But Macron’s once-comfortable lead has evaporated for this first round as far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is running a close second, amid fears of an historically low turnout. For VOA, Lisa Bryant reports from Paris.]]
((NARRATOR))
For these Emmanuel Macron supporters, capturing the attention of home-bound commuters is tough going.
((NAT SOUND – “Melenchon”))
((NARRATOR))
This couple rebuffs their campaign flyers — they’re backing far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.
((NAT SOUND: “Vive Macron”))
((NARRATOR))
Finally, success.
((Anselme Kassarate, Voter (male in French) ))
“I think he’s the candidate with the best program for France. During his term, he’s done a lot for young people, for jobs, for security…”
((NARRATOR))
Until recently, this presidential election seemed like a foregone conclusion. Macron was scoring more than 30 percent in opinion polls…
…his support boosted by his response to the war in Ukraine.
But today, Macron’s main rival — far-right leader Marine Le Pen — is just a few percentage points behind him. Some polls show an even closer race, if Le Pen faces Macron in the second-round runoff on April 24th .
((Nicole Bacharan, Political Analyst))
((Mandatory cg: Skype))
“She appears closer to a lot of French people’s concerns /// … /// I guess she’s also benefiting from a true hatred that Macron inspires to (for) a lot of people on the hard right, the hard left and sometimes in the middle.”
((NARRATOR))
This is Le Pen’s third presidential bid. She’s managed to soften her anti-immigration, Euro-skeptic image. Her campaign focuses on cost-of-living worries.
It helps her that another candidate, Eric Zemmour, is considered even more right wing than Le Pen. Zemmour’s own popularity has flagged in recent weeks.
While on the left, Melenchon is running a distant third.
Five years ago, Macron trounced Le Pen in second-round voting, as a young, pro-European Union, independent candidate who was promising to transform France.
But his presidency has been marked by crises — from the yellow vest protests for economic justice, to Covid-19 and now Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This time around, Macron has barely campaigned, claiming he’s too busy running the country and responding to the Ukraine conflict.
He’s held only one major campaign rally — and has not participated in a single face-to-face debate with the other 11 presidential hopefuls.
His economic proposals — like raising the retirement age from 62 to 65 and conditioning some welfare benefits on work – have proved unpopular.
He’s also been criticized for failing to deliver on climate promises.
((Christian Ranvier, Retiree (male in French)
“It’s true he hasn’t done anything for the environment. Although economically, it’s true unemployment has dropped.”
((NARRATOR))
Now, Macron is finally fighting back — warning of a far-right victory and calling out some candidates’ past ties to Russia…
((NARRATOR))
…including Marine Le Pen.
((NARRATOR))
But even Macron’s supporters are uncertain if he will win another runoff against Le Pen.
((Gilles Herrada, Macron Campaign Worker (in English) ))
“I’m very worried. I was in New York when Trump won the election, and believe me, I still remember the one-week-long shock just trying to grasp that reality. Obviously, it could happen here.”
((NARRATOR))
Making what once seemed a predictable ending for Macron not so predictable anymore.
((Lisa Bryant, for VOA News, Paris))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline) Paris
Embargo DateApril 7, 2022 19:32 EDT
Byline((Lisa Bryant, for VOA News, Paris))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English