French Election: Macron toughens stance towards EU while Le Pen softens to attract voters

With just days to go to the second round of French election that will be held on Sunday, May 7th, the two candidates are making minor changes to their stance in order to attract voters. The Front National candidate has softened her stance towards the European Union to attract undecided voters, who were skeptical towards her anti-EU rhetoric. Previously she said that within six months of her win, she would hold a referendum on the European Union membership as well as move out of the single currency euro. However, she later said that she would look at the consensus and then hold a referendum in one or one and half year in a coordinated approach.

Emmanuel Macron, who is the most pro-EU candidate in this year’s French election, said that that the European Union must reform or face Frexit. In the first round of the election, more than 45 percent of the voters, supported euro-skeptic candidates; Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, and Dupont Aignan. Macron’s softening of stance came after Madame Le Pen selected Mr. Aignan to be her Prime Minister if she wins. Speaking to the BBC, Macron said, "I'm a pro-European, I defended constantly during this election the European idea and European policies because I believe it's extremely important for French people and for the place of our country in globalization…….But at the same time, we have to face the situation, to listen to our people, and to listen to the fact that they are extremely angry today, impatient and the dysfunction of the EU is no more sustainable……..So I do consider that my mandate, the day after, will be at the same time to reform in depth the European Union and our European project.” He added that continuing the EU in its current form would be a betrayal and he doesn’t want to do that because it could eventually lead to the rise of Front National again and there could be Frexit.