SCARF ROW
MARINE Le Pen has vowed to ban Muslim headscarves if she wins the French election - but Emmanuel Macron has warned she would spark a civil war.
The two politicians clashed in a televised debate on Wednesday when Ms Le Pen denounced headscarves and defended her plans to stop them being worn in public.
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She claimed she's fighting radical Islam, "not carrying out a war" against their religion.
Ms Le Pen said: "I'm telling it in a very clear manner: I think the headscarf is a uniform imposed by Islamists.
"I think a great proportion of young women who are wearing it have no other choice in reality."
Mr Macron replied: "What you're saying is very serious. You are going to cause a civil war. I say this sincerely."
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In a law that would be enforced like "wearing a seatbelt in a car", Ms Le Pen wants to ban all religious clothing in public, including Jewish men from wearing the kippa.
Mr Macron said France would be "the first country in the world to ban religious displays in public spaces."
'IN RUSSIA'S GRIP'
During the face-off, the French leader claimed Ms Le Pen was "in the grip of Russia", saying she made herself "dependent" on Vladimir Putin.
Ms Le Pen's National Rally party took a £8million loan from a Russian First Czech-Russian Bank in 2014.
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The 44-year-old accused Ms Le Pen, 53, of being "unfit" to replace him due to the outstanding debt.
Mr Macron said: "You don't speak to other leaders, you speak to your banker when you speak to Russia, that's the problem.
"None of us went to seek financing from a Russian bank, and especially not from one that is close to power in Russia."
He also referred to his 2017 election run when he won his first term of office over Ms Le Pen.
Mr Macron said: "You are not just talking about Russia, but your banker. It’s hardly surprising that Russia took part in the campaign to destabilise me in 2017."
She said her party had "no other choice" to take the overseas cash injection, claiming French banks would not lend to them.
Ms Le Pen said she was a "free and independent woman".
She added: "I offer my solidarity and absolute compassion to the Ukrainian people in front of millions of viewers."
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Results posted just hours after the face-off showed the incumbent head of state on 59 percent of the vote, and his far-Right rival on 39 percent, with 2 percent abstentions.
A similar outcome in the final round of the 2022 presidential election on Sunday would see Mr Macron take his second five-year term of office.
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