![\"Emmanuel](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/FEF5\/production\/_95896256_gettyimages-677960538.jpg\")
<\/span><\/figure>\nBoth candidates were hoping to make an impression on the estimated 18% of undecided voters in the first election the country has ever held without a candidate from the two traditional mainstream parties.<\/p>\n
The second round run-off between the pair takes place on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Analysis: Hugh Schofield, BBC Paris correspondent<\/strong><\/p>\n This turned into a tense, at times incendiary exchange between two leaders with starkly opposing ideas about the road France needs to take.<\/p>\n Marine Le Pen, who lags badly in the opinion polls, had clearly decided that the best tactic was to launch a full-frontal attack on Emmanuel Macron.<\/p>\n Constantly throughout the debate she threw insults and allegations at him, accusing him of being part of the discredited existing order.<\/p>\n But there was little substance to her attacks, and over and again Emmanuel Macron was able to expose the weaknesses in her arguments – especially over the economy and the euro.<\/p>\n The debate will have done nothing to alter his position as clear favourite in Sunday’s vote.<\/p>\n The BFMTV poll found that Mr Macron was deemed the “most convincing” during the television debate for two-thirds of those who voted for both left-wing candidate Jean-Luc M\u00e9lenchon in the first round, and for 58% of those who voted for Republican Fran\u00e7ois Fillon.<\/p>\n Mr Macron also led among voters when they were asked about which candidate was most honest, most aligned with the voters’ values, and who had the best plans.<\/p>\n It was carried out among 1,314 people over the age of 18 who watched the debate.<\/p>\n Insults and issues<\/strong><\/p>\n Mr Macron already enjoys a lead in the opinion polls, which predict he will pull in about 59% of votes.<\/p>\n But Ms Le Pen hammered him on his record during the key debate.<\/p>\n On unemployment, which stands at around 10% nationally, Mr Macron acknowledged that the country had not tackled the problem – and Ms Le Pen asked why he had not handled it during his recent time as economy minister.<\/p>\n She also accused him of complacency about the threat of radical Islamist terrorism. “Security and terrorism are major issues that are completely missing from your programme,” she said.<\/p>\n But in response, Mr Macron said the measures she proposed – “eradicating” Islamic fundamentalism by shutting down extremist mosques, and expelling preachers of hate – played into terrorists’ hands and the desire they have for a “a civil war”.<\/p>\n They also clashed on the future of the European Union, where they have clearly opposed views.<\/p>\n Ms Le Pen has said she would call for an in-out referendum on EU membership, and in recent days declared the euro currency finished.<\/p>\n During the debate, she said she would restore France’s national currency and give companies and banks an option on which currency to pay in – a proposal which Mr Macron labelled “nonsense”.<\/p>\n “How can a big company pay in euros on one hand and pay its employees in another currency?” he asked.<\/p>\n Wednesday night’s debate marked the last time the two candidates faced each other before Sunday’s vote.<\/p>\n Just two days of campaigning remain before reporting restrictions come into force late on Friday evening – and remain in place until polls close on Sunday.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron was more impressive than rival Marine Le Pen in Wednesday evening’s final TV debate, a viewers’ poll says. The candidates traded insults for more than two hours, arguing over terrorism, the economy, and Europe. The French broadcaster BFMTV found voters had a more favourable view of Mr Macron than Ms […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":316338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[107],"tags":[3],"yoast_head":"\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/187D\/production\/_95896260_hi039296951.jpg\")
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\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/ichef-1.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/14D15\/production\/_95896258_gettyimages-677745662.jpg\")
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