First Michelle and Melania, now Fillon and Le Pen

Macron Le Pen debate

In a speech Monday, far-right French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen copied comments made two weeks earlier by Francois Fillon, the former frontrunner who was eliminated in the first round of the election, AFP has found.

On April 15, Fillon made a speech in Puy-en-Velay in which he 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.

At her rally Monday in Villepinte, Le Pen repeated almost verbatim these passages from Fillon's speech.

Fillon had also quoted from World War I prime minister Georges Clemenceau and writer Andre Malraux.

In her speech ahead of Sunday's second round run-off against far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon, Le Pen also used the same quotes.

Florian Philippot, the vice president of Le Pen's National Front party, said it was "not plagiarism," but "a nod to a short passage in a speech about France."

Le Pen and Macron will face off Wednesday in what promises to be a fiery TV debate when the far-right leader 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 Tuesday 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.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!