By Michel Rose

PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron warned of the danger of a Brexit-style election upset in his solely marketing campaign rally earlier than the primary spherical of the presidential election, in a bid to persuade dispirited voters and re-energise a lacklustre marketing campaign.

Per week or so earlier than the April 10 vote, Macron finds himself on the defensive, with far-right chief Marine Le Pen staging a comeback within the polls and the race tightening between the 2 frontrunners for the essential April 24 runoff.

“Take a look at what occurred with Brexit, and so many different elections: what seemed unbelievable truly occurred,” Macron informed a crowd of flag-waving supporters. “Nothing is inconceivable.”

“The hazard of extremism has reached new heights as a result of, in latest months and years, hatred, different truths have been normalised,” he stated. “We now have received used to see on TV reveals antisemitic and racist authors.”

Though he’s nonetheless projected to win a second mandate, Macron has misplaced floor within the polls, a dip that some aides attribute to a manifesto that features powerful, conservative measures resembling elevating the state pension age to 65.

Others have additionally criticised a marketing campaign that began late and lacked “magic”.

After a rockstar-like entry on to the stage of a 35,000-seat stadium exterior Paris, Macron began his two-hour speech with a protracted checklist of accomplishments and guarantees to create jobs in hospitals and nursing houses, in a transparent try to persuade centre-left voters that pollsters say may abstain.

“Our lives, their lives, are price greater than income,” he informed the group, stealing a well known anti-capitalist slogan. He additionally urged a spherical of applause for lecturers and nurses.

Nevertheless, he stayed true to his reformist programme, saying the French should work longer to pay for these measures, as a result of he refused to boost taxes and enhance a public debt pile that has ballooned to 102% of GDP through the pandemic.

“I’m not hiding the truth that we should work extra,” Macron stated, attacking contenders resembling Le Pen and far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon who’ve promised to chop the pension age to 60.

“Do not imagine those that say they are going to minimize the retirement age to 60 or 62 and that every part shall be alright. That is not true,” he added.

The rally of about 30,000 supporters – virtually reaching the venue’s full capability – was attended by former left-wing and right-wing prime ministers and different get together grandees. But one supporter requested by Reuters discovered the speech underwhelming.

“It is a speech that reveals he desires to clarify what he’ll do, however it lacked inspiration,” stated Martin Rochepeau, a 22-year previous pupil.