Key facts
- Marine Le Pen assured business leaders that the National Rally's policy plans pose no threat.
- French stocks declined earlier in the day due to investor concerns about the budget and political risks.
- Polls indicate Le Pen is likely to win the first round of the presidential election.
- France is preparing for a challenging budget debate ahead of the election.
- A poll found 82% of business owners are pessimistic about the economic impact of the next president.
Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader of the National Rally, sought to reassure French business leaders on Thursday that their policies pose no threat, ahead of a presidential debate. Her comments came as blue-chip French stocks fell to a one-month low earlier in the day, with investors concerned about the upcoming budget and political risks leading up to next year's election.
Le Pen stated that entrepreneurs who have examined the National Rally's proposals have no reason to be alarmed. Opinion polls consistently show Le Pen winning the first round of the election in April by a significant margin, and potentially winning the run-off in May. However, polls differ on who her rival in the second round might be, with some suggesting far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon and others pointing to former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.
France is facing a difficult annual budget process in the coming months as political parties position themselves for the presidential election. The minority government led by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is expected to set its 2027 deficit target soon and must present a bill to parliament by October 6. A poll conducted by OpinionWay for MEDEF indicated that 82% of business owners are pessimistic about the economic impact of whoever becomes the next president.
Other participants in the debate included Melenchon, Philippe, former centrist Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, and center-left candidate Raphael Glucksmann.