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France election: Macron says EU must reform or face 'Frexit' France election: Macron says EU must reform or face 'Frexit'
(about 1 hour later)
The front-runner in the French presidential election has told the BBC that the EU must reform or face the prospect of "Frexit".The front-runner in the French presidential election has told the BBC that the EU must reform or face the prospect of "Frexit".
Pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron made the comments as he and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen entered the last week of campaigning.Pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron made the comments as he and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen entered the last week of campaigning.
French voters go to the polls on Sunday to decide between the pair.French voters go to the polls on Sunday to decide between the pair.
Ms Le Pen has capitalised on anti-EU feeling, and has promised a referendum on France's membership.Ms Le Pen has capitalised on anti-EU feeling, and has promised a referendum on France's membership.
She won support in rural and former industrial areas by promising to retake control of France's borders from the EU and slash immigration.She won support in rural and former industrial areas by promising to retake control of France's borders from the EU and slash immigration.
"I'm a pro-European, I defended constantly during this election the European idea and European policies because I believe it's extremely important for French people and for the place of our country in globalisation," Mr Macron, leader of the recently created En Marche! party, told the BBC. "I'm a pro-European, I defended constantly during this election the European idea and European policies because I believe it's extremely important for French people and for the place of our country in globalisation," Mr Macron, leader of the recently created En Marche! movement, told the BBC.
"But at the same time 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."But at the same time 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.""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."
Mr Macron added that if he were to allow the EU to continue to function as it was would be a "betrayal".Mr Macron added that if he were to allow the EU to continue to function as it was would be a "betrayal".
"And I don't want to do so," he said. "Because the day after, we will have a Frexit or we will have [Ms Le Pen's] National Front (FN) again.""And I don't want to do so," he said. "Because the day after, we will have a Frexit or we will have [Ms Le Pen's] National Front (FN) again."
Both Mr Macron - who is leading in the polls by 20 percentage points - and Ms Le Pen spent Sunday campaigning around France.Both Mr Macron - who is leading in the polls by 20 percentage points - and Ms Le Pen spent Sunday campaigning around France.
Mr Macron visited Paris's Holocaust memorial, where he paid his respects. Sunday was France's national day of remembrance for the French Jews who were deported to Nazi Germany during the Second World War.Mr Macron visited Paris's Holocaust memorial, where he paid his respects. Sunday was France's national day of remembrance for the French Jews who were deported to Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
The war has proved a difficult area for Ms Le Pen. She suggested earlier this month France was not responsible for a 1942 wartime round-up of 13,000 Jews, who were sent from France to Nazi death camps.The war has proved a difficult area for Ms Le Pen. She suggested earlier this month France was not responsible for a 1942 wartime round-up of 13,000 Jews, who were sent from France to Nazi death camps.
Meanwhile, Jean-François Jalkh - the man she named as interim president of the FN while she campaigned - was forced to step down on Tuesday amid claims he had questioned the reality of Nazi gas chambers in the past. He denies any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Jean-François Jalkh - the man she named as interim president of the FN while she campaigned - was forced to step down on Tuesday amid claims he had questioned the reality of Nazi gas chambers, which is a crime under French law. He denies wrongdoing.
It was an unwelcome development for Ms Le Pen, who has worked hard to distance her party from its anti-Semitic roots. It was an unwelcome development for Ms Le Pen, who has worked hard to distance her party from past links with anti-Semitism.
She laid a wreath at the World War II monument in Marseille, after visiting an aluminium plant in the nearby town of Gardanne.She laid a wreath at the World War II monument in Marseille, after visiting an aluminium plant in the nearby town of Gardanne.
The plant is known for dumping toxic waste into the Mediterranean. It was given six years to reach compliance with EU norms last year, after improving its filtering process.The plant is known for dumping toxic waste into the Mediterranean. It was given six years to reach compliance with EU norms last year, after improving its filtering process.
While there, Ms Le Pen said she would pursue a vision of "true ecology", saying she wanted to "make the link between the choice of economic model and environmental and health problems".While there, Ms Le Pen said she would pursue a vision of "true ecology", saying she wanted to "make the link between the choice of economic model and environmental and health problems".