AFP 6:01 p.m., March 2, 2022
A debate must oppose the presidential candidates Valérie Pécresse (LR) and Eric Zemmour (Reconquête!) on Thursday March 10 on TF1, their teams said on Wednesday, confirming information from Figaro.
Organized one month before the first round, it should last an hour and a half.
On TF1, this debate should focus on themes such as insecurity, immigration and the economy, according to Le Figaro.
Themes dear to the two presidential candidates and detailed in their respective programs.
The debate is announced at a time when Valérie Pécresse seems in difficulty in recent first-round polls, between 11 and 13% of voting intentions.
The Les Républicains candidate is preceded by Marine Le Pen (16-17%), Eric Zemmour (around 14%) and close behind Jean-Luc Mélenchon (between 10.5 and 12.5%).
She remains far behind Emmanuel Macron (25-28%), still not an official candidate.
Ranged attacks between the two candidates
Remote attacks have multiplied between candidate LR and Eric Zemmour in recent weeks.
In full invasion of Ukraine, the Pécresse camp judges the candidate Reconquest!
"disqualified" by his past remarks on Vladimir Putin and Russia.
Eric Zemmour nicknamed Valérie Pécresse "Mme 8:02 p.m., because at 8:02 p.m., the evening of the first round, between Emmanuel Macron and me, she will call to vote Macron", he says.
On the networks, his camp also accused the lieutenants of the candidate LR of "Islamodroitism", pointing to supposed acquaintances with radical Islam.
Valérie Pécresse's team was indignant at these methods, which they deemed "nauseous".
Patrick Karam, political adviser to Valérie Pécresse, claimed to file a complaint.