Europeans: the schedule of debates to follow between now and June 9

The dates are marked in red in their calendar. A little less than two months before the European elections, all the teams are busy. And refine their programs and arguments to convince as many voters as possible between now and June 9. If applicants have increased the number of media appearances in recent weeks, no other format than face-to-face or multi-party debates allows for better exposure, or even confrontation, of ideas.

As the campaign begins to intensify, the dynamics of the audiovisual contests will follow the same rhythm. The main media are getting into battle gear. While some have already gotten a head start, others still have to keep their appointment. A meticulous schedule which has already sparked discord between, on the one hand, the headliner of the RN, Jordan Bardella, who refused to participate in the first two clashes, and on the other, his competitors. But the left is not left out in this media selection: certain officials have planned to boycott CNews at the end of May.

While eight debates have already taken place, including one in Le Figaro last week between Jordan Bardella and former Prime Minister Manuel Valls, - to be found in replay on the newspaper's website - what about the next ones? After an hour-long exchange between the third man in the polls, Raphaël Glucksmann (PS-Place publique), and the head of the LR list, François-Xavier Bellamy, Sunday April 14 on BFMTV, political enthusiasts will a priori take their bad in patience.

Many debates were in fact concentrated in May, a month when French interest in the vote should increase and their choice should crystallize. Like the duels between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, in May 2017, then at the same period five years later, a first contest is scheduled between the favorite of opinion surveys, Jordan Bardella, and the head of the list Renew, Valérie Hayer, Thursday May 2 from 9 p.m. on BFMTV. Representatives of the divide between nationalists and “Europeans”, which has been reshaping the political landscape for seven years, the two headliners will have to follow in the footsteps of their elders. And this, so as not to be caught up in the old “right-left” battle.

Three days later, all the candidates will find themselves on the same stage. A special European “Grand Jury” will be broadcast on Sunday May 5 between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on the Figaro website, as well as on RTL and Paris Première. For those who missed it, the show will also be visible from 6 p.m. on LCP.

Four other debates will follow, three of which will be supervised by the 24-hour news channels. Specializing in international issues since the start of the war in Ukraine, LCI will open the show in prime time on Tuesday May 21. BFMTV will follow suit on Monday May 27 from 9 p.m. In the process, its competitor CNews, which has already pitted Valérie Hayer and Marion Maréchal (Reconquête), will organize, with Europe 1, a confrontation on Thursday May 30. A contest in which Raphaël Glucksmann and the ecologist Marie Toussaint announced that they would not participate due to the channel's editorial line.

Last televised agora, the one planned for Tuesday June 4 by France 2. A program all the more fundamental as it will be held five days before the French vote. Some of which, still abstaining or hesitant, will make their decision in the last days. Even in the very last hours.