French presidential candidates clash in first debate of campaign

In France on 28 August 2026, presidential candidates clashed in the first debate of the campaign, according to Euronews. Le Pen sought to woo business leaders, and Al Arabiya reported that she proposed savings of 125 billion euros in an economic debate. Europe 1 quoted a commentator saying Mélenchon and Le Pen stood a little above the rest.

Valeurs actuelles reported a poll in which Le Pen is the candidate the French prefer on the economy, while Le Monde wrote that business leaders have reservations about her. Brussels Signal reported that the French Greens are split over rallying behind Mélenchon, and the Frankfurter Allgemeine wrote that Le Pen is pushing Bardella into the second row.