Round two of the French presidential elections 2022 takes place this Sunday.
Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron is seeking to repel the threat coming from the far right, spearheaded once again by the resurgent Marine Le Pen.
Elections of this nature are never fought with the gloves on, but this year's French elections have seen divisions over France's response to Covid-19, Islamic terrorism and — above all other considerations — economic inequality.
The National has already explained the timetable for the French presidential election polls and how they work.
The 12 French presidential elections were whittled down to two on April 10 when centrist Mr Macron took the lead with 27.6 per cent of the vote, while Ms Le Pen was second with 23.4 per cent — setting up a rematch of the run-off in 2017, which the current president won by a landslide.
Here, their chances of success are evaluated.
Name: Emmanuel Macron
Party: La Republique En Marche!
*Latest polling (aggregate): 55%
Emmanuel Macron became the youngest president in French history in 2017 when he secured a resounding 66 per cent of the final round vote to see off far-right challenger Marine Le Pen.
All the more remarkable was his centrist La Republique En Marche! party had only just been formed. Previously, Mr Macron had served as economy minister under Socialist president Francois Hollande.
This time round things are a lot closer, as The National columnist Colin Randall wrote after Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen clashed in a fiery debate on Wednesday.
"When the same candidates reached the second round decider in 2017 and took part in a similar debate, Mr Macron was the emphatic winner, his opponent seeming ill-prepared, weak on detail and at times incoherent. On Wednesday night, she was in markedly better form, irritated but unruffled as Mr Macron launched fierce attacks on a range of issues from French membership of the EU and her ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin to Islamism and the environment.
"Mr Macron, by contrast, showed occasional agitation, accusing Ms Le Pen of risking civil war with plans to outlaw the wearing of the veil in all public places, pursuing nationalist policies that would drag France out of the EU and offering no compelling evidence of being able to fund lavish spending and tax concessions intended to ease the cost-of-living crisis.
"As the confrontation began, new soundings put Mr Macron on 56.5 per cent of voting intentions. This would be 10 per cent down on his comfortable 2017 triumph but, even allowing for a margin of error, the likeliest outcome is that he will win a second term at the Elysee Palace."
Name: Marine Le Pen
Party: National Rally
*Latest polling (aggregate): 45%
That Emmanuel Macron's victory is no longer assured is a testament to Marine Le Pen's success in trying to sanitise the reputation of her far-right party. As part of this cleansing, its name was changed from the abrasive National Front to the softer National Rally.
The switch hasn't exactly been reflected in policies, with Ms Le Pen's favoured attack lines of limiting immigration and French nationalism at the forefront of her bid to be elected French president at the third time of asking.
She has also campaigned hard on the French economy, which is seen as the key issue for an electorate increasingly disillusioned by widening inequality and shrinking employment opportunities.
If she were president, Ms Le Pen said she would think twice about supplying Ukraine with weapons and would oppose energy sanctions against Moscow — for the sake of the Russian people.
She said she would pull France out of Nato’s military command, weakening the western military alliance’s united front amid the Russian war on Ukraine.
*Polls accurate as of April 23
French elections campaigns - in pictures
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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UAE squad
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Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
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Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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About Karol Nawrocki
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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