French President warned of the risk of a Brexit-style election upset in his only campaign rally before the first round of the presidential election, in a bid to convince dispirited voters and re-energise a lacklustre campaign. Less than a week before the April 10 vote, Macron found himself on the defensive, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen staging a comeback in the polls and the race tightening between the two frontrunners for the crucial April 24 runoff.<\/p>\n
\"Look at what happened with Brexit, and so many other elections: what looked improbable actually happened,\" Macron told a crowd of flag-waving supporters.<\/p>\n
\"Nothing is impossible.\"<\/p>\n
And appearing to link Brexit to Le Pen's campaign Macron added: \"The danger of extremism has reached new heights because, in recent months and years, hatred, alternative truths have been normalised.<\/p>\n
\"We have got used to see on TV shows antisemitic and racist authors.\"<\/p>\n
Although he is still projected to win a second mandate, Macron has lost ground in the polls, a dip that some aides attribute to a manifesto that includes tough, conservative measures such as raising the state pension age to 65.<\/p>\n
Others have also criticised a campaign that started late and lacked \"magic\".<\/p>\n
After a rockstar-like entry on to the stage of a 35,000-seat stadium outside Paris, Macron started his two-hour speech with a long list of accomplishments and promises to create jobs in hospitals and nursing homes, in a clear attempt to convince centre-left voters that pollsters say could abstain.<\/p>\n
\"Our lives, their lives, are worth more than profits,\" he told the crowd, stealing a well-known anti-capitalist slogan.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:French urged to turn off dishwashers as energy crisis deepens<\/p>\n
\"That's not true,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The rally of about 30,000 supporters - almost reaching the venue's full capacity - was attended by former left-wing and right-wing prime ministers and other party grandees.<\/p>\n
Insiders claim the incumbent president is \"very concerned\" about the possibility of Marine Le Pen winning the election, presuming she will be the candidate facing Macron at the second round.<\/p>\n
Europe Director of the Eurasia Group, Mujtaba Rahman, wrote: \"Lots of concern I the Emmanuel Macron camp about Le Pen winning the French Presidential elections.\"<\/p>\n
A latest poll by The Economist, however, still gives Macron an 84 percent probability of winning the elections on April 24.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
See the rest here: <\/p>\n
'Brexit is proof' Macron in sensational attack on UK vote as he begs voters to back him - Express<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" French President warned of the risk of a Brexit-style election upset in his only campaign rally before the first round of the presidential election, in a bid to convince dispirited voters and re-energise a lacklustre campaign. Less than a week before the April 10 vote, Macron found himself on the defensive, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen staging a comeback in the polls and the race tightening between the two frontrunners for the crucial April 24 runoff Continue reading