Thread by @BBCkatyaadler

Last night‘s much anticipated Big Head to Head debate between presidential hopefuls Macron and Le Pen will likely fail to dramatically affect the outcome of Sunday‘s vote. Le Pen was smoother, calmer, better prepared than 2017. Macron attacked skilfully /1 bfmtv.com/politique/elec…

49% of those asked in France‘s BFMTV poll thought Macron came out on top. Half of them thought he was the more arrogant of the two. An image he‘s trying to fight in order to woo floating or apathetic voters .. /2

They arguable pose more of a threat to him on Sunday than Marine Le Pen herself. Polls are still tight enough that a victory by outsider Le Pen can’t be ruled out as a possibility. She’s closer to power than she’s ever been in the past .. /3

Thanks, in part to the strong dislike many French voters have developed for Macron over his 5 years as President. NB Key after Sunday‘s vote will be parliamentary elections in June. They will heavily influence effectiveness of the President 🇫🇷#FrenchElections2022 /4

!Apologies! The BFMTV figure above should read 59% of spectators asked thought Macron won the debate. Not 49% as I wrote above. BUT This does not mean the debate itself is necessarily changing voting patterns. Last night was a far cry from the 2017 debate disaster for Le Pen /5