The French presidential election was marked by a first televised debate among the main candidates, where Marine Le Pen and the left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon stood out as those who scored the most points with viewers.
Both candidates threatened to defy European Union rules during their speeches, defending positions that go against the European norms currently in force.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, in particular, made concrete promises, namely the promise to cancel public debt, a measure that would represent a significant break with the EU's austerity policies.
The debate highlighted a growing trend in the French political landscape toward Eurosceptic positions, with the two more radical candidates managing to dominate the discussion.
