For the first time in the campaign, the seven main leaders met in the employers' union auditorium in front of more than 200 members for more than two and a half hours of dense exchanges. A first confrontation aimed more at sending messages of love to entrepreneurial decision-makers than at winning votes among the general public.
The seven main candidates exposed their divergences and convergences while trying to seduce or not rob the heads of companies. The quasi-unanimity on the surface on the need for Europe quickly fades when François-Xavier Bellamy, more offensive than usual, blurts out about his rivals: "It amuses me to hear them all say that they are for simplification." The socialist Raphal Glucksmann also wants Europe to once again become "a continent of producers and not just consumers. Marion Maréchal Le Pen (Reconquête) warns that she will not fall "into the caricature" of blaming the EU for "economic degradation." Francois-Xavier Bellamy recalls that even François Fillon, hardly suspected of anti-liberalism, was against. Marion Maréchal proposes a moratorium on existing treaties “with a view to renegotiation or denunciation.” Jordan Bardella tries to clear the air, who also develops the concept of “fair exchange” and defends “the idea of reciprocity” in the treaties. Valérie Hayer implicitly tackles it: “I hear some people here, around this table, saying that we must leave the European energy market, then no, we must reform it, then leave it, she says. When the RN candidate mentions the “green, orange, and red files, in which he wants the professional branches to classify the standards, Raphal Glucksmann takes it up: “The climate collapse, what color is it? » Smiles were heard in the room. “Little bashing and a very good debate. They're quite impressive! Five years ago, you were for leaving Europe and the euro. Now you are defending the Capital Markets Union!"