French PM refuses to 'promise the moon', clashes with far right

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal accused his far-right and left-wing political opponents of “promising the moon” in a three-way televised debate on June 25, ahead of the first round of parliamentary election on June 30.

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In a muddled, confusing TV debate between leaders of the three top-polling blocs, Mr Attal came under pressure from his far-right opponent, Mr Jordan Bardella, who repeatedly interrupted him and accused him of “lecturing” and lacking credibility.

“The difference between my competitors and me is that, as prime minister, I don’t want to lie to the French. I don’t want to promise them the moon,” Mr Attal said in the 90-minute debate that produced no major policy announcements.

Opinion polls show the far-right National Rally (RN) winning the two-round election on June 30 and July 7 but without an absolute majority, potentially sharing power with centrist President Emmanuel Macron, who surprised the country by calling a snap election earlier in June.