Michel Rose, Elizabeth Pineau, and Ingrid Melander.

PARIS (Reuters), -The French President Emmanuel Macron faced Marine Le Pen, a far-right opponent. This was their last debate before Sunday’s Presidential Election run-off. They were arguing over who is best placed to increase voters’ purchasing power.

Macron lags Le Pen in voter polls, so the eagerly awaited confrontation will be a chance for Le Pen to convince voters that she is worthy of the presidency and that they shouldn’t be afraid to see the far-right at the helm.

Le Pen stated at the beginning of the debate that he had seen the French suffer for five years and that he was worried about their quality life. He added: “I will be president of the cost to live.”

Macron’s greatest challenge in maintaining his lead in opinion polls is to avoid sounding arrogant, which many voters have criticized him for. He will also need to poke at Le Pen’s policies plans.

He stated in his opening remarks that he will, if elected, work to make France more independent and stronger… We can improve every day life.”

He said that with unemployment at an all-time low of 13.9%, he was proud to have seen job creation in his term.

The debate started with both candidates interrupting one another. Le Pen stated that she would “in real life”, her ideas would help voters more than her rival, and Macron asserted some of her plans were unrealistic.

Two opposing views of France are presented to voters in the election: Macron presents a pro-European platform and Le Pen is based on deep euroscepticism.

Behind the scenes, much haggling took place before the debate began. From the temperature in the room to flipping coins to determine which topic they would choose to start with (the cost of living) to who would be speaking first.

DIFFERENT THIS TIMES?

They met again in 2017 for a debate. Le Pen was defeated in the presidential contest.

Macron was firmly established as the front-runner by prime-time debate.

Macron has become a disruptor in politics, and Le Pen is able to attack Macron’s record as an office holder. She has been softening her image and has moved towards the mainstream.

He’s no longer the same opponent. Le Pen declared before the debate that he now has been in power for five years, something which wasn’t true last time.

Macron has a narrower lead in opinion polls than five years ago. He won the election with 66.11%. According to voter polls, he was expected to win with 55.5-56% of the vote.

A poll conducted by OpinionWayKea Partners and Les Echos magazine showed that 14% of voters are still waiting to hear the outcome.