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Francois Mori AP/PA Images

Marine Le Pen plagiarised one of her rivals in a campaign speech last night

Le Pen’s supporters brushed off claims she copied parts of a speech given two weeks ago by Francois Fillon verbatim.

FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL FAR-right candidate Marine Le Pen fought off accusations of plagiarism today as supporters of her rival Emmanuel Macron warned that a high abstention rate could hurt his chances of victory.

It emerged that Le Pen had copied parts of a fiery speech she made yesterday from one made about two weeks earlier by one-time conservative candidate Francois Fillon, the former frontrunner who was eliminated in the first round of the election.

In an address on 15 April, Fillon made specific mention of the geography of France’s borders, paid tribute to the French language and spoke of a third “French way” for the 21st century.

Analysis by the Ridicule TV YouTube channel showed Le Pen repeated these passages almost verbatim from Fillon’s speech.

Florian Philippot, the vice president of Le Pen’s National Front (FN) party, said it was “not plagiarism”, but “a nod to a short passage in a speech about France”.

Le Pen’s spokesman David Rachline said the copied passages in the speech were “appreciated by Fillon’s voters”.

Just days ahead of Sunday’s run-off, 39-year-old Macron remains the frontrunner in the race with polls predicting a 19-point lead, putting him on track to become France’s youngest president.

Amid concerns in his camp that a high abstention rate could help Le Pen’s chances, company bosses, celebrities and scientific researchers called in newspaper editorials for people to vote for Macron, a former investment banker who styles himself as “neither of the left nor the right”.

Call to left-wing voters

Macron’s economically liberal approach worries many voters on the left. While they will not back Le Pen, many say they will stay at home rather than vote for him.

Opinion polls say abstention could be as high as 30 percent, higher than in recent presidential elections, as the “Neither-nor” camp gains strength.

Cedric Villani, a high-profile mathematician and commentator wrote in the left-wing Liberation newspaper today that abstaining “is the equivalent of giving half of one’s vote to Marine Le Pen in the most important election that France has had for several decades”.

Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a veteran rebel of French politics, called on supporters of hard-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon, who scored 19.6 percent in the first round, to put aside their “hate” of Macron.

“Think rationally and vote for Emmanuel Macron and defend democracy and freedom,” the former ecologist Euro MP told Europe 1 radio.

Le Pen and Macron will face off tomorrow in a what promises to be a fiery TV debate when the far-right candidate is likely to sharpen her attacks on a candidate she says embodies “the world of finance, of arrogance, of money as king”.

Macron fought off accusations from Le Pen that he was controlled by banks.

“I am not under the thumb of the banks. If I were, I would have continued to work for them,” he told BFMTV news channel today.

Macron said he had received similar insults from the far-left and far-right for months, “but I’ll look them straight in the eyes and say I don’t have any lessons to learn from them”.

In a feisty speech on Sunday, Macron told thousands of his supporters he would defend “free democracy” if voters choose him.

He said he was aware that “many people will vote for me to avoid having the National Front”.

“I say to them that I am completely aware that on 7 May, I will be doing more than defending a political programme — I will be leading the fight for the republic and for a free democracy,” he said.

- © AFP, 2017

Read: ‘If Le Pen wins, you’ll be buying bread with francs this time next year’

Read: If Marine Le Pen wins election, her prime minister will be a far-right eurosceptic

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    Mute Dick Durkin
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:16 PM

    Probably all have the same speech writers considering it is all one big illusion.

    85
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    Mute John003
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:30 PM

    Macron has promised to cut 120000 public sector jobs and reduce public spending by €60 billion….Le Pen in contrast wants no cuts to public service and she is the far right candidate….France is in for a few austerity years under Macron…

    70
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    Mute Soccer T's
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:32 PM

    @John003: To summarise…Macron = realist, Le Pen = populist

    58
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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:41 PM

    @Soccer T’s: To be honest, Macron is only being realist if you believe increased global corporate capitalism is a good thing . . . The problem here is that if there was any other candidate other than Le Pen against him, there’s a good chance he’d lose. It’s why Fillon and his supporters are particularly bitter towards the media, claiming they robbed him of the presidency thanks to the special treatment meted out. Macron has had an easy ride . . .

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:44 PM

    @John003: She’s also Putin’s candidate given that her accepting Russian money puts her as the only candidate likely to drop Russian sanctions.

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    Mute Matty kinevan
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:14 PM

    Poor old macron never gets a mention does he? Barbara Streisand effect journal

    47
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    Mute brian boru
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:17 PM

    @Matty kinevan: Any detailed articles on him will help his rival more – Imagine a CEO of a bank running for president over here !

    57
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    Mute cortisola
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    May 2nd 2017, 3:20 PM

    @Matty kinevan: He is so plain there is nothing to write about. Second Enda.

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    Mute Matty kinevan
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    May 2nd 2017, 6:50 PM

    @brian boru: That’s funny… I can easily imagine that

    1
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    Mute David
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:03 PM

    The Journals resident Nazi wannabes will no doubt be on to defend this excuse of a human.

    64
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    Mute Soccer T's
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:04 PM

    @David: Nazi is a strong word….Deluded and misguided probably a fairer assessment

    41
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    Mute Debbie Fahey
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:18 PM

    @David: So wanting to preserve the culture/identity of France and stop terrorism makes her an ‘excuse for a human’ ?

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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:29 PM

    @Debbie Fahey: I doubt she cares that much, it’s a game to her. She probably even wants to be President just to get one over her dad! Trump a la Francaise . . .

    19
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    Mute Soccer T's
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:33 PM

    @Debbie Fahey: And here comes the deluded brigade. Are you suggesting that Macron doesn’t want all of the above?

    23
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    Mute gordon larney
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:35 PM

    @David: seems to be a lot of nazis around David, not just commenting on the journal, just as a matter of interest do you think all the people that voted for trump are nazis?? Was all the people that voted for brexit nazis??? Are all the people that have le penn in the position she is in to possibly become leader of France nazis??? I’d say there is quite a few out there alright,, but surely not all of them,, because if they are, we are talking about millions upon millions of people, I think it’s time left wing politicians started talking to these people and find out there fears and deal with the problems,, before more lunatics like le penn and trump get into power….

    41
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    Mute Debbie Fahey
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:49 PM

    @gordon larney: Nazi now simply means disagreeing with the looney Left. The fascist anti fascists :)

    55
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    Mute Patrick J. O'Rourke
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:57 PM

    Yep, while the real reincarnation of the Nazis are defended by people on the deluded left who have no understanding of what they really are. We all know who wants to kill everyone who disagrees with them, their book and their belief in conquest.

    31
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    Mute Lepanto
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    May 2nd 2017, 2:08 PM

    @David: Nazis… blah blah.. Literally Hitler…blah.. blah.. Waycist… blah.. blah.. You Mongos, is that all you lot can spout?

    35
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    Mute Lepanto
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    May 2nd 2017, 2:21 PM

    @Debbie Fahey:

    Le Pen has the leftie outrage merchants all triggered..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwAofSi1ft4

    18
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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    May 2nd 2017, 2:35 PM

    @Lepanto: “Le Pen has the leftie outrage merchants all triggered..” ooohh . . . I bet writing that gave you a thrill! Obviously you know nothing about Le Pen or what she represents to French society and politics. You just troll on . . .

    11
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    Mute Lepanto
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    May 2nd 2017, 2:39 PM

    @Neil Mcdonough:

    Cameltoe, Well it triggered you enough to respond, mission accomplished.

    “Obviously you know nothing about Le Pen or what she represents to French society and politics”…How so???

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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    May 2nd 2017, 2:47 PM

    @Lepanto: Ain’t gonna work lad! Troll someone else. Your posts at best trigger disbelief that someone could be that thick . . .

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    Mute Lepanto
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    May 2nd 2017, 3:04 PM

    @Neil Mcdonough:

    “Your posts at best trigger disbelief that someone could be that thick”….yet you’re still responding …”Obviously you know nothing about Le Pen or what she represents to French society and politics”…again, how so???

    14
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    Mute Lepanto
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    May 2nd 2017, 3:06 PM

    @Neil Mcdonough:

    “Ain’t gonna work lad! Troll someone else”..I asked you a question and it seems that you can’t answer…you’re not very clever are you.

    13
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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    May 2nd 2017, 3:13 PM

    @Lepanto: Ok, I’ll meet you half-way. Obviously I can only tell by your comments. If you do actually know much about French Politics, Le Pen etc, why don’t you demonstrate it instead of the idiocy you normally spout such as the above. Then I’ll retract my comment . . .

    6
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    Mute Lepanto
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    May 2nd 2017, 3:29 PM

    @Neil Mcdonough:

    …”probably even wants to be President just to get one over her dad! Trump a la Francaise”…yes, such and enlightening insight you have on French politics.

    13
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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    May 2nd 2017, 3:32 PM

    @Lepanto: yawn . . .

    6
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    Mute stefanovich
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    May 2nd 2017, 2:18 PM

    Afp pushing their left wing agenda yet again.

    28
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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:12 PM

    Fillon was only 150000 votes behind Le Pen. It’s obvious from these speeches that she is unashamedly targeting his and the supporters of Melenchon. She might as well have copied him too. A very cynical politician, she will say whatever she thinks will get her the vote, but it’s obvious that it’s all about her own personal ambition.

    24
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    Mute Just Me
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:31 PM

    @Neil Mcdonough: All politicians no matter their politics do as you describe. It’s part and parcel of the political game.

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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:35 PM

    @Just Me: Yes, but people actually still vote based on what they’re saying! Le Pen though is particularly bare-faced about it.

    6
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    Mute Revolting Peasant
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    May 2nd 2017, 1:51 PM

    If you want a return to the EEC then Marines pledge to leave the euro is the best opportunity to realise it. Free the PIGS!

    25
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    Mute Todd Hebert
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    May 2nd 2017, 2:20 PM

    She is, after all, the French Donald Trump. This shouldn’t surprise anyone.

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    Mute Gerard McConnell
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    May 2nd 2017, 5:37 PM

    I’ve a feeling we’d not be seeing as much from the appalled media if it was Macron that copied a speech. So transparent. All anti Brexit, it happens. Anti Trump and it happens. Don’t bother addressing why the voters of the world are leaning that way. By the way I didn’t support Brexit or Trump!!

    6
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    Mute cortisola
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    May 2nd 2017, 3:15 PM

    Please stop bullying her thejournal !

    8
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    Mute Rui Firmino
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    May 2nd 2017, 3:38 PM

    @cortisola: Reporting the facts is not bullying

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    Mute cortisola
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    May 2nd 2017, 4:15 PM

    @Rui Firmino: Can’t see any facts, just speculation. You can get ban for telling such things here on thejournal.

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    Mute Rui Firmino
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    May 2nd 2017, 4:22 PM

    @cortisola: “Analysis by the Ridicule TV YouTube channel showed Le Pen repeated these passages almost verbatim from Fillon’s speech.” What is being said here is easily verifiable. It has also been widely reported by other news organisations, so stop whining. It’s the Journal’s fault she plagiarised someone’s speech.

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