Macron and Le Pen battle over pensions as French election race tightens

FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron, candidate for his re-election in the 2022 French presidential election, attends a political campaign rally at Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, France, April 2, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - With France's presidential race tightening ahead of Sunday's first round vote, favourites President Emmanuel Macron and far-right challenger Marine Le Pen battled over pension reform in broadcast interviews on Monday.

Opinion polls have long predicted Macron will win a second term but Le Pen has tightened the gap, thanks to a campaign focused on purchasing power on which she doubled down on Monday.