French President Emmanuel Macron held his first election rally on Saturday, ahead of the first round of voting in the country’s presidential election on April 10.
Macron spoke to tens of thousands of supporters in Nanterre, close to the French capital, in his only major appearance before the polls. He promised voters more social justice and support to improve their purchasing power amid fast-rising inflation in France.
He said his project for 2022, it’s solidarity and social progress, adding that it was unfair that citizens who work should have to spend their whole salary filling up their petrol tanks and shopping.
According to Macron, who is running for his second term, working people should be able to receive a tax-free bonus of up to €6,000 ($6,620) as of the summer,
Amid soaring energy prices, Macron said his government had already put around €20 billion into capping electricity and gas prices.
Macron made his only rally appearance before the first round of the presidential election on April 10
Saturday’s rally comes after several weeks in which Macron has been more focused on international diplomacy over the war in Ukraine than domestic affairs, allowing Le Pen to gain ground on issues closer to home for the French public.
The latest survey by pollster Elabe, published on Wednesday, showed far-right leader Marine Le Pen winning 47.5% of the vote in a likely run-off against Macron scheduled for April 24.
The poll showed Macron gaining 52.5%, a reduced margin of victory compared to the same poll conducted a week earlier.
Macron has gained support in some quarters for what is seen as his strong leadership over the Ukraine conflict.
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