THE polling numbers are close in this final week of the French election, with the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen running just behind the supposed defender of the values of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron. 

Much is made in the press about the distinction between the two, but unfortunately what is also apparent is that the distance is shrinking as the neoliberal Macron shifts further to the right while this week attempting to show he is really a man of the people after having spent the campaign proposing proposition after proposition to benefit the wealthy.

Le Pen meanwhile has attempted to keep the focus solidly on the French pouvoir d’achat, power of buying, or cost of living, accusing Macron of both contributing to inflation and being oblivious to its effects.