In a highly anticipated European elections debate, Gabriel Attal and Jordan Bardella engaged in a robust confrontation, moderated by France 2 on Thursday evening. With just 16 days left until the elections, the head of the RN list, Jordan Bardella, leads in the polls. This televised face-off covered numerous pivotal subjects and managed to attract around 3.6 million viewers.
However, the head of the presidential list was noticeably absent. Sébastien Chenu, vice-president of the RN, attended the Face à Face on BFMTV Thursday morning and criticized the Prime Minister for allegedly shirking responsibility for governmental results. He lauded the debate as 'dignified'. Valérie Hayer, absent from the debate itself, took to social media to critique Bardella’s performance, labeling it as incompetent and dishonest. Meanwhile, Éric Zemmour remarked on the absence of discussions around crucial keywords like 'Islam', 'wokism', and 'taxes'.
On the right, Les Républicains MEP Nadine Morano expressed her disappointment on BFMTV, yearning for a debate between François-Xavier Bellamy and his RN opponent. Morano emphasized a growing public desire to challenge Emmanuel Macron's policies. Regarding the left, reactions remained subdued. Aurore Lalucq, the PS-Place Publique candidate, lamented the exclusion of Raphaël Glucksmann and deplored the sidelining of women's roles in politics and democratic discourse.
Following the debate, additional discussions were held by Caroline Roux with heads of lists like Manon Aubry from La France insoumise, showing the spectrum of political perspectives around the central theme: 'More or less Europe?'. François-Xavier Bellamy critiqued the selection process for the debate participants, questioning its democratic validity.
Interestingly, France 2’s debate, despite attracting significant interest, did not dominate the prime-time slot. TF1’s '20 Heures' held the top spot with nearly 5 million viewers, followed by M6's 'Scènes de households'. The continuation of the debate-themed evening on France 2 saw a viewer drop-off, falling behind TF1's and M6’s programming.
The next key debate is scheduled for May 27 on BFMTV, featuring main candidates for the European elections. This event will be moderated by Apolline de Malherbe and Maxime Switek, promising another round of engaging political discussions.
- This debate marked a significant event in the European elections, capturing public attention with various political figures engaging in substantial discourse. The divide between right and left continues to be notable, with the RN and Les Républicains aiming to capitalize on the public’s dissatisfaction with current governmental policies. The absence of discussions on certain polarizing topics reflects the ongoing tactical maneuvering in political rhetoric.
- TV ratings highlighted the competitive nature of prime-time slots, with TF1 maintaining a clear lead. This underscores the challenge for political debates to capture and sustain public interest in a media landscape crowded with entertainment options.
- Looking ahead, the May 27 debate on BFMTV is poised to be another crucial moment, offering voters further insight into the platforms and personalities vying for their support in the upcoming elections.
