translation: so far, - it s a very balanced debate. i m biased, but the arguments are good and they may change my mind. translation: she s much better than last time, - but she s still too weak- in comparison with macron. he s far stronger on every subject. marine le pen s job was to show that she was prepared for power. mr macron s task was to show that she was not, without looking too arrogant and superior himself. around ten points separate them in the polls. four days separates one of them from power. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. 0ver now to paris and our correspondent hugh schofield so what s the instant verdict of voters in the polls that were taken after the debate? well, in general, i would say the verdict is that macron came out ahead. but marine le pen advanced
what is happening with the ferries and the western isles, calling on the scottish government to have a dedicated the scottish government to have a dedicated place for the islanders to ensure dedicated place for the islanders to ensure they have more say in that. i think ensure they have more say in that. i think it ensure they have more say in that. i think it is ensure they have more say in that. i think it is a ensure they have more say in that. i think it is a mixed picture in terms of how think it is a mixed picture in terms of how much think it is a mixed picture in terms of how much has been devolved. there has been of how much has been devolved. there has been some progress, we have had an act has been some progress, we have had an act which has been some progress, we have had an act which has given more powers to local an act which has given more powers to local communities to devise some of their to local communities to devise some of their assets. in the we
economic plans won t work. and then goes for the jugular her relationship with russia. you re dependent on vladimir putin, he says. when you speak to russia, you speak to your banker. he knows perfectly well that what he s saying is false, le pen replies. he s hosted putin in versailles. but what do voters make of it? across the country, voters from all sides, many still undecided, were watching the drama unfold. we see a very different debate from 2017. it appears that marine le pen is much more well prepared than in 2017. she s very calm. she decided to not attack the president, emmanuel macron. and from my point of view, emmanuel macron seems a bit unstable.
the french president emmanuel macron has clashed with his far right rival, marine le pen, in a tv debate ahead of sunday s election. the two candidates went head to head on issues like the cost of living, russia and immigration. 0ur paris correspondent lucy williamson reports. after weeks of sparring from a distance, it s hand to hand combat. the first time in this election that emmanuel macron and marine le pen have fought face to face. bonsoir, marine le pen. bonsoir. with just two campaigning days left, and a quarter of voters saying the debate will shape their decision, they ve been waiting for this. first up, the big one rising prices and spending power, ms le pen s favourite subject. her slogan give the people their money back. mr macron lectures her on why her
conservative mps. thank you. this week has just confirmed that - conservative mps. thank you. this week has just confirmed that the i week has just confirmed that the debate will kick off at 11:30am, thatis debate will kick off at 11:30am, that is the commons and will be there at 1130 am when the debate begins. the russian president, vladimir putin, has described his operation in the besieged ukrainian port of mariupol as a success. the city is under russian control, apart from a industrial complex where around 2,000 ukrainian fighters are still holed up. mariupol lies at the southernmost edge of a region known as the donbas. gaining full control of the port city would enable russia to move troops and supplies northwards far more freely. that would help russia s objective of extending its control over the donbas region highlighted here in yellow. the azovstal steelworks, a massive industrial plant in mariupol, has been the last centre of ukrainian resistance in the city, as simon jon