Macron promises to make France “the first great country” to stop gas

During the presidential campaign France In Marseille on April 16, Mr. Macron sought to widen the lead over far-right rival Marine Le Pen that polls show. This Mediterranean city voted for candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon in the first round of voting of the 2022 French election.

Ahead of the April 24 vote, the race was raging on the left, with both candidates seeking to appeal to voters who chose Mr. Melenchon in the first round.

During a campaign on April 16, Mr. Macron said he would put the new prime minister in charge of “green planning”, appealing to left-wing voters with central planning to address 21st-century concerns about climate change. climate change.

“I have heard the anxiety of young people. The prime minister’s task this time will be to make France the first great country to get rid of gas, oil and coal. It is entirely possible. happens and we will. Between coal and gas on one side, nuclear on the other, I choose nuclear,” said Mr. Macron at the old port of Marseille, France’s second-largest city.

President Macron wants to build six new nuclear reactors and start research for eight others, increase solar capacity tenfold and build 50 offshore wind farms by mid-century.

Mr. Macron also wants to choose a national holiday in honor of nature in May every year. The incumbent French leader called opponents in the 2022 French presidential election, Mrs. Le Penis a climate skeptic.

In the first round on April 10, Mr. Melenchon finished third with more than 21% of the votes. As both Mr. Macron and Ms. Le Pen seek to appeal to Mr. Melenchon’s supporters in a new round of elections, Ms. Le Pen targets the more rural, working class of this constituency by focusing on spending. The cost of living, the cost of food increased, and the price of gasoline was high after the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Mr. Macron is trying to appeal to Mr. Melenchon’s supporters in the more educated, center-left and more urban areas.

Poll about French presidential election 2022 The Ipsos poll on April 16 showed that 33% of Mr. Melenchon’s voters plan to vote for Mr. Macron, 16% for Ms. Le Pen and 51% of undecided.