Snap poll shows Macron wins first French presidential TV debate
A televised debate between France's main presidential candidates turned into a sparring match between centrist candidate Emmanuel macron and his far-tight rival, Marine Le Pen.
Macron, the favourite in polls to win the presidency in a run-off vote on 7 May put in a solid showing, with a snap poll conducted after the debate showing that he came out on top.
Of the 1,157 adults canvassed by Elabe after the three-and-a-half hour debate, 29.0% said Macron had been the most convincing, followed by far-left rival Jean Luc Melenchon at 20.0%.
The conservative candidate and ex-prime minister Francois Fillon tied with Le Pen at 19.0%, while the Socialist contender Benoit Hamon trailed at 11.0%.
Macron focused his platform on the desire for a strong France within Europe, whereas Le Pen said she wanted to stop immigration - whether legal or not - adding that globalisation had been a nightmare for French citizens.
Fillon countered Le Pen, saying that "the real serial killer of French purchasing power is you with your plan to pull out of the euro."
Le Pen was quick to dub that 'Project Fear'.
Macron concluded: "Today Mrs. Le Pen, many people in France don’t agree with you."
Commenting on the debate afterwards, Danske Bank's Aila Mihr said: "With 40% of voters still undecided on who to support in the election, the importance of these debates should not be underestimated and two more will follow on 4 and 20 April ahead of the first election round.
"For now, Le Pen’s popularity does not seem to have suffered from the first defeat for populists in the Dutch parliamentary election last week."
Mihr also pointed out how polls indicated that voter abstention at the elections might hit a record high, which could favour Le Pen given how her voters remained the most convinced of all in supporting their candidate.
"Nevertheless, our base case is still that she will not win the presidency."
As of 0624 GMT euro/dollar was higher by 0.26% to 1.0763.