Thread by @ClaireBerlinski

The #FrenchElectionTwitterSummit will be watching the debate on this thread. You can watch here: france24.com/en/france/2022…. @ArunLeParisien @jclavel2003 @moutet

Is this simultaneously translated? I don't want to watch it in English. I'm changing channels.

Here it is in French: cnews.fr/le-direct

Macron looks irritable.

Marine looks blonde. Very blonde. She says she feels France's pain.

Macron's body language isn't helping him. He really can't even fake warmth.

Really impressed by MLP's hair and makeup. So much better than the last time she debated EM.

MLP is explaining that she's going to reduce taxes and increase spending on social programs. She'll increase wages, too. It will be an economic miracle.

Macron: Mme Le Pen is quite right to mention numbers. We've all heard that people can't make ends meet. He's going to cap energy prices, which will be much better than reducing VAT. Mme Le Pen voted against this cap.

"Next, work. We've created 1.2 million pay slips. I was looking at your platform, and was pleased to see there's no mention of unemployment. I suppose this means you recognize what we've achieved."

He's laughing at her: "You can't even remember what you voted for."

She's going for a lot of wonky details off the bat to show she understands them.

He's telling her that the president doesn't get to decide whether employers give bonuses.

MLP is blaming high gas prices on Germany. She's going to fix things by getting out of EU energy market and getting rid of VAT. EM is pointing out that she has her inflation numbers wrong.
EM: Withdrawing from EU energy markets would be an enormous mistake.

EM: We need to fix the EU, not withdraw from it. Getting rid of VAT won't make much difference. Your measure would benefit supermarket chains, not consumers.

EM: We need to fix the EU, not withdraw from it. Getting rid of VAT won't make much difference. Your measure would benefit supermarket chains, not consumers.

Next up: International relations.
Macron: War is raging once again on the Continent. Times are serious indeed. Russia is strengthening its offensive. This will lead to humanitarian catastrophe. France must support Ukraine, give them defensives & offensive equipment.

We must welcome Ukrainian refugees. We need to stay the course and do more while making sure there's no escalation & the war doesn't spill over. I've been speaking with China, India, Gulf States. That's why a strong Europe is so important.

That's why France has invested in a strong army over past 5 years. We must bring Russia back to reason.

MLP: I express my solidarity and absolute compassion to Ukrainianians. Russia's attack is unacceptable. Monsieur Macron, your efforts to secure peace are commendable. I agree we should provide aid, weapons.

But we need to be careful. Delivering weapons to Ukraine could turn France into a co-belligerent. I don't agree on banning gas imports. It will hurt the French people and have unintended consequences.

MLP: I am concerned we'll throw Russia into the arms of China. That they'll turn into a superpower. This is a huge risk for the West. (No one has told her this has happened already, I guess.)

EM: You, Madame, are in Russia's grip. He reminds her of her views on Crimea. Says when there are important decisions to make, her banker makes them. Russia interfered in campaign on your benefit in last election.

You can't defend French interests because you're in their pocket.
MLP: INDIGNANT! I AM A PATRIOT! HOW VERY DARE YOU!

MLP: Crimea .... We'll get to that. *You* hosted Putin at Versailles.
EM: I hosted a head of state, not my banker!

MLP--Mister Macron, let me tell you--
EM--you still haven't paid their money back!
MLP--and millions of French people have taken out loans, just like me.
EM--In a French bank. Not a Russian bank. Not paid back.

MLP---I can't let you say that.
EM--you said it yourself!
MLP--there's honour in not having a lot of resources.
EM--but you owe Russia money. A bank close to the Kremlin. So many of your choices can be explained by this.

MLP--this is simply not true.
EM--you're just saying "wrong, wrong." I have loans to buy a house, a car, but not from a Russian bank.
MLP--it's dishonest to blame me for getting a loan from Russia when you wouldn't let me get one in France ...

Quite the dustup.

Now we move to pensions. Oh, wait, the EU.