With Mr Macron way out in front in voter intentions for round one of the election on April 10 and Marine Le Pen, her far-Right opponent, polling ahead of her, Sunday’s rally at the Zenith Hall, eastern Paris, was billed as a make-or-break moment for Ms Pécresse. She has suffered several desertions in recent days to the presidential camp.
Ms Pécresse is also coming under attack from Eric Zemmour, her far-Right rival, who has accused her of being a Macron clone. Several key members of his government are originally from her party.
“The extremists are lying to you,” she told the flag-waving crowd, imploring them to “refuse the venom of nostalgia”.
“Don’t let anger win the day,” she said, saying that she offered “order” and “national unity” while the far-Right would end in disorder and disunity.
In another swipe at Mr Zemmour, she insisted there was no need for “fatalism about the great replacement” of France’s indigenous white population by mostly Muslim foreigners – one of his pet campaign claims.
The symbol of France, Marianne, “was not veiled” and has said that people who entered the country illegally should be deported, she added.
“If we have to build walls like some states do, I would support them,” she said. “I want us to fight together against immigration that leads to areas beyond France. If a country refuses to take back its illegal immigrants, with me there will be zero visas.”
‘Indomitable French woman’
In a speech covering issues from education and the environment, Ms Pécresse pledged to “protect, rebuild and reinvent” France.
She tried to cast herself as strong on families, pledged to increase small pensions, slash inheritance tax for most and hire an extra 25,000 caregivers.
Her first move as president would be to end France’s 35-hour working week so employees can work and earn more. She also accused Mr Macron of allowing debt to spiral over and above during the Covid crisis.
There have been increasingly strident concerns that the former minister in the administration of Nicolas Sarkozy lacks the charisma and personal touch required to create a direct bond with the French electorate.
“You have a right to know who I am,” she told the crowd, recounting her family history before telling them that it had come under “attack of a rare intensity whose real target was me”.
“I won’t tell you about these scars because they belong to me and my loved ones,” she said, adding that when it came to “modesty”, there was a red line.
“But these trials have helped me mature. They reinforced the part of humanity without which there can be no real chief,” she said.
“Even if you fail, it means you’ve tried … I’m this indomitable French woman. Nothing will stop me,” she said to cheers.
