# French presidential election campaign debates

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/french-presidential-election-campaign-debates
> Updated: 2026-09-08T17:15:40.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

The French presidential election campaign has moved through various thematic debates involving several candidates. An initial economic debate hosted by MEDEF focused on national deficits, the necessity of economic reforms, and the risk of recession. During this session, Jean-Luc Mélenchon urged employers to increase wages amid data showing a decline in real purchasing power due to inflation.

Subsequent campaigning included a televised debate on ecology hosted by BFMTV. This event featured several political figures and included scientific commentary from François Gemenne. While the debate aimed to prioritize environmental themes, it faced criticism regarding its depth and the quality of the discourse, with some observers suggesting it failed to adequately challenge climate-skeptical rhetoric.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-08: BFMTV hosts first presidential election debate on ecology

BFMTV hosted a televised presidential campaign debate focused on ecology, featuring political figures and expert François Gemenne to address climate issues in the French political landscape.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bfmtv-hosts-first-presidential-election-debate-on-ecology

### 2026-08-30: MEDEF hosts economic debate for French presidential candidates

French presidential candidates engaged in an economic debate hosted by MEDEF, addressing concerns over national deficits, inflation, and declining purchasing power amid signs of near-recession.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/medef-hosts-economic-debate-for-french-presidential-candidates

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Cite as: French presidential election campaign debates. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/french-presidential-election-campaign-debates