Paris – AFP

French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron will hold a large rally on Saturday in Marseille, France’s second largest city, in an attempt to persuade left-wing voters to join him in the second round of the presidential election against his far-right rival, Marine. Le Pen.

Marseille was not randomly selected. In the first round of elections on April 10, the large Mediterranean city voted 31 percent for far-left leader Jean-Luc Mலlenchon.

With a further 22 percent of the vote, Mellonson’s third-place voter turnout is crucial for the candidates in the second round of elections on April 24. These voters.

Thousands of people are expected to attend Macron’s meeting, which will take place in front of the Palais Faro overlooking the old Marseille harbor.

Since the results of the first round of the presidential election were announced, the outgoing president – who has consistently portrayed himself as “neither right nor left” but has been accused of being “the president of the rich” – has doubled. In his efforts towards left and “social” currents.

He suggests he could compromise on his controversial pension reform plan, criticize business leaders’ “astronomical” salaries and talk about the possibilities of easing the standard for disability assistance.

It remains to be seen whether these signals will convince voters who are unpredictable or want to avoid recreating the 2017 Macron-Le Pen contest.

Impressing those who wanted renewal, Macron won the last election with 66 percent of the vote and benefited above all by voting overwhelmingly against the far right.

But this year, opinion polls suggest the president will get 53 to 56 percent of the vote, but the competition looks fierce.

The second round of the election campaign seemed to be very difficult for Le Pen, who had to explore the details of his plan, especially in relation to sovereignty issues.

Before the first round, he launched a peaceful campaign during which he focused on the issue of purchasing power, a major concern of the French. Eric Gemmour, who received 7 percent of the vote in the first round, re-centered his image, using the extreme and extremist rhetoric of another far-right candidate who was excluded from the second round.

During a surprise visit Friday to a market in Bertwei (South), the far-right candidate was harassed by his opponents, who shouted “Marin, get out!” And “Racism!”

When asked about the veil he wants to ban on immigration, the Ukraine war, or public places, Le Pen backed his “serious” plan, saying it was “very reasonable.”

Le Pen, who is now calling for “sanctions” during Macron’s second five – year term, reiterates his populist statements criticizing the power of the “regime” and the “rich”. But at the same time it is trying to reassure voters about its program.

Le Pen, who was verbally assaulted in Perth by a masked Muslim woman who opposed his plan to ban the wearing of the headscarf in public, insisted that he would fight “for all French people, regardless of their appearance.”

Over the weekend, and shortly before the second round, which is scheduled for eight days, the two rivals will prepare for the inter-sessional debate scheduled for Wednesday.

This conflict is very symbolic in the history of the French presidential election since 1974.