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Macron v Le Pen: ‘Unbridled liberalism or authoritarian nationalism’
The left needs to be aware that primary reason for the rise of the far right in France is Macron’s policies, argues DENNIS BROE
A woman pushes her bicycle as she looks at campaign posters of French President Emmanuel Macron and centrist candidate for the re-election, left, and of far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen in Versailles, west of Paris

THE polling numbers are close in this final week of the French election, with the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen running just behind the supposed defender of the values of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron. 

Much is made in the press about the distinction between the two, but unfortunately what is also apparent is that the distance is shrinking as the neoliberal Macron shifts further to the right while this week attempting to show he is really a man of the people after having spent the campaign proposing proposition after proposition to benefit the wealthy.

Le Pen meanwhile has attempted to keep the focus solidly on the French pouvoir d’achat, power of buying, or cost of living, accusing Macron of both contributing to inflation and being oblivious to its effects. 

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