Emmanuel Macron, the frontrunner in France’s presidential election, has warned that the EU must reform or face Frexit — France’s exit out of the bloc. In an interview with the BBC, the The 39-year old centrist said that while he is pro-EU, the European project is in need of reform. “I’m a pro-European ... But we have to face the situation, to listen to our people, and to listen to the fact that they are extremely angry today, impatient and the dysfunction of the EU is no more sustainable. So I do consider that my mandate, the day after, will be at the same time to reform, in depth, the European Union and our European project,” he told BBC.
Meanwhile, his rival and far-right leader Marine Le pen branded him a “pro-EU extremist”. Ms Le Pen has promised a referendum on France’s membership in the bloc if elected.
Mr Macron is currently favourite to become France’s youngest ever president, leading Ms Le Pen by 19 points, but she has shown she is a canny campaigner. Some militants have formed a movement they have called “Social Front” to block both candidates and marched on Monday under a banner saying: “Rock and a hard place: Social Front, it will be won in the streets.”Round 2 of the presidential election is on May 7.
