Saudi FM calls Indian, Pakistani counterparts to discuss developments    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Macron debates angry voters as campaign intensifies ahead of runoff
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 12 - 04 - 2022

French President Emmanuel Macron has entered the final two weeks of the election campaign and faces a tough battle for reelection against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
The president and candidate entered the campaign late before the first round of the election due to the war in Ukraine, holding just one large campaign rally, but now is traveling to rural areas of France and engaging in debates with angry voters.
In the eastern city of Mulhouse, where far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon came first in the election, Macron faced healthcare workers who urged him to add more beds and "improve our working conditions".
"Macron, young people don't want to work 7 days a week at a salary that is not decent," said one care worker. Another worker said that they don't feel that pay has gone up, adding that he should give caseworkers the means to treat people.
In Denain, northern France, where Marine Le Pen won 41% of the vote in Sunday's first round, Macron faced voters' tough questions about the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation.
A dental assistant pressed the president on gasoline prices and his words that he wanted to "piss off" the unvaccinated.
Macron stumbled a bit in the conversation, telling the woman that she didn't live in the "real world" as she criticized the closure of schools in the country's first lockdown.
He faced voter questions about retirement as well, adding that he was willing to evolve on his program.
Macron has proposed to raise the retirement age from 62 to 65, which he says is needed in the country financially. He said it may be possible to raise the retirement age to 64 by starting the reform earlier, back-tracking a bit on his proposal.
The last time Macron tried to reform France's retirement system, he faced large protests and transport strikes leading him to eventually table the project as he focused on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both second-round presidential candidates Macron and Le Pen will want to try to convince those who voted for Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the first round to support them in the runoff. Mélenchon came third in the presidential election, with around 21%.
While Mélenchon urged voters not to support Marine Le Pen, he did not tell them to vote for Macron. — Euronews


Clic here to read the story from its source.