France is about to enter the final phase, and the incumbent Macron faces a strong challenge from the far-right candidate Le Pen. The two men have similar approval ratings, and the future of France hangs in the balance.
Le Pen's main campaign tactic was to appeal to voters dissatisfied with the situation in Europe by promoting France's withdrawal from NATO. She believes that NATO has lost its raison d'être and that France should restore its sovereignty and independence. Although Macron has also expressed doubts about NATO, he has not abandoned the ideal of European integration.
He came up with the idea of creating a European legion a few years ago, and in the recent Russia-Ukraine conflict, his idea has already begun to bear fruit. The EU countries have decided to form a 5,000-strong European Rapid Reaction Force, which will be subject only to the command of the European Union. This shows that Macron has gone further than Le Pen in terms of European defense.
In order to distinguish himself from Le Pen, Macron also made the Russian issue a priority of his campaign. He accused Le Pen of her proximity to Russia, believing that she would sacrifice the interests of France.
He also emphasized the active role he has played in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and although Ukrainian ** Zelensky is dissatisfied with him, Macron insists that he is working for peace and security in Europe. He tried to broker talks between Biden in the United States and Putin in Russia before the conflict broke out, but was opposed by the United States and Ukraine. He was also one of the few leaders in Europe who was able to communicate directly with Putin during the conflict, and in this way, he allowed both sides to understand each other's bottom line and position, avoiding a greater crisis caused by miscalculation.
Therefore, if France wants to avoid being drawn into the maelstrom of war, it needs a leader like Macron. And Le Pen's proposal to withdraw from NATO will not help solve this crisis in any way, and will not even be endorsed by Putin.
It is precisely using his relationship with Putin that Macron has given French voters a different option that will help him achieve his goal of re-election.