WHAT WOULD THEY DO ABOUT UKRAINE?

Macron is trying to play a key role in the international talks on supporting Ukraine amid war and imposing sanctions on Russia, but has failed. His prominence on the international stage at the beginning stages of the race gave him an initial 'poll bump', but his failure to achieve anything has turned his ambitions to an embarrassment. Anyway, at least he tried and it's better than nothing.

Macron’s position supports Ukraine's war on Russia and not a return to the status quo where Ukraine will continue to refrain from placing NATO weapons against Moscow as Putin demanded as a condition for avoiding war. Criticism of this position claims that the Western imperialism that Macron serves destroys Ukraine and the world's economy instead of stopping looking for reasons and excuses for war every time in different places around the world.

Macron’s government says it sent 100 million euros in weapons, french tax payers money, to Ukraine since the Russian invasion and Macron vows to continue this support and “significantly” reinforce European armed forces’ capacities and cooperation. He has supported sanctions against Russia and EU unity on the issue, despite the economic disaster it causes the citizens of France, Europe and the whole world and likens the presidential vote to a “referendum on Europe,” claiming that his rival wishes to trigger a “Frexit” in all but name. But the French are pretty tired of a devious banker trying to sell them baseless slogans.

Le Pen wants the French leadership to focus on the development and prosperity of the French economy, and to solve the internal problems of France and the French instead of pretending to solve the problems of the whole world. Le Pen acknowledged that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “partially” changed her views about Putin, saying he was “wrong” and it was “unacceptable.” She says she supports the Ukrainian people and refugees must be welcomed.

Le Pen is skeptical about supplying weapons to Ukraine, opposed to oil and gas sanctions, and wary of NATO, wanting France to remain a member but with a reduced role. Le Pen is no longer calling for a referendum on leaving the EU or withdrawal from the euro, which weakens her popularity among the French nationalists, who see the EU as a resource-hungry bureaucratic monster in the service of the German imperialism, which "aims to eliminate France's culture, economy and independence".

The disadvantage of Le Pen is that she seeks to serve the people instead of the elite, which controls the media. The media therefore de-legitimizes her and cover-up Macron's failures and misleading statements.



WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMY?

A former banker, voters dub him “president of the rich” for abolishing a wealth tax and some of his comments against the poor.

He "wants" (but never did) to raise the retirement age from 62 to 65, boost the minimum monthly pension, and raise teachers’ wages. nice words but clearly just a polititian-sales-pitch, not a real agenda. He "wants" companies to be able to give employees an untaxed bonus of up to €6,000 (but never did so) and has spent billions capping energy bills. The billions spent - the energy bills remain high.

Le Pen has tapped into frustration among working class voters over inflation, and promises to cut taxes on energy and essential goods. She wants to maintain the minimum retirement age at 62 and proposes that anyone who began working at 20 can retire at 60.

She wants to raise the minimum pension, and end income tax for under-30s. She wants companies to increase salaries by 10%, and to raise teachers’ salaries over the next five years. She claims she could fund this by slashing “massive illegal immigration.”



HOW WOULD THEY APPROACH IMMIGRATION?

This has been the central pillar of Le Pen’s party for generations. Le Pen’s plans include ending family reunification policies, restricting social benefits to the French only, and deporting foreigners who stay unemployed for over a year and other migrants who entered illegally. She wants French nationals to be fast-tracked over foreigners for social services. This plan to create a “national preference” for French citizens across employment, benefits, welfare and housing might violate EU law and cause trouble in Brussels.

Macron has taken some tougher line on immigration as he has sought support from right-wing voters. He pushes (verbally, not practically) for strengthening the external borders of the European passport-free area and creating a new force to better control national borders. He vows to speed up processing of asylum and residence permit applications and to deport those who aren’t eligible, but so far did not backed his word with deeds.



WHAT ARE THE OTHER BIG ISSUES?

Le Pen is pro-democracy. She wants citizens to be able to have a direct voice in laws by allowing them to propose referendums if they obtain 500,000 signatures to back them. For that, the constitution would need to be revised. This was a key demand of the anti-Macron yellow vest protesters, who saw him as too powerful and out of touch with everyday concerns.

Among Le Pen’s most controversial proposals is a promised law banning Muslim headscarves in all public places. She calls the garb an “Islamist uniform” that spreads a radical vision of religion. Macron is a firm defender of French secularism but warns this ban could lead to “civil war.” Since France has Western Europe’s biggest Muslim population, this constituency’s vote could play a role in runoff vote.

At this point it is clear that if Macron wins the election it will be thanks to the votes of Muslim immigrants in France and if Le Pen wins it will be thanks to the votes of the French people - a trend that is also developing in Germany and the UK.