France’s 11 presidential hopefuls stake out positions on TV

British counterterrorism expert Olivier Guitta told VOA the unusual speed with which IS claimed responsibility for the attack would seem to indicate the shooting was not just “inspired” by the terror group but was also planned by it.

The warning was circulated more widely among French security services in the hour following the Champs Elysees attack. A late surge in support for Melenchon has pushed French bond yields close to a four-year high.

Both Melenchon and Le Pen favour France’s exit (“Frexit“) from the European Union.

She called for France to tackle Islamist extremism which she described as a “monstrous, totalitarian ideology that has declared war on our nation, on reason and civilisation”.

She said “a clear head and a firm grip” were required in the wake of the gun attack, saying: “It is time to stop being naive”.

Mr Fillon also pledged to protect French citizens, promising an “iron-fisted” approach.

While Mr. Macron promises to launch gradual economic and labour reforms and retain the status quo in foreign policy, Mr. Fillon wants radical reforms, including an overhaul of the labour code and sacking of public servants en masse, and closer ties with Vladimir Putin’s Russian Federation.

French presidential election candidate for the right-wing Les Republicains (LR) party, Francois Fillon delivers a statement to the press at his campaign headquarters in Paris on April 21, 2017. Macron voters, by contrast, were optimistic about the future. And though Jeanbart points out that the November 13 attacks were “much more powerful” than the Champs Elysées one, the latter still “puts the end of the campaign back on national matters” – a development that could benefit rightwing contenders like Le Pen.

There is concern that neither youthful independent centrist Emmanuel Macron, who lacks experience, nor centre-right former prime minister Francois Fillon, whose campaign was dogged by scandal, would have the vision or authority to bring change. Also wounded was a female tourist.

Le selfie? How gauche: Jean-Luc Melenchon poses with a fan. Eventually freed after serving most of his sentence, he was arrested again this year on suspicion of preparing an attack on police – but released for lack of evidence.

A serial offender, he spent almost 14 years in prison for a range of crimes including attacks on the police. Prosecutors said a note defending ISIS fell out of his pocket, although there was no previous evidence of radicalization.

Jones noted yesterday’s terror attack in Paris and said Le Pen is the only one responding, proposing that suspected terrorists be expelled from the country.

Ahmed points to real growth in the eurozone nearing 2 per cent, PMIs at their highest levels in six years, unemployment falling in peripheral economies, business confidence is up, while subdued core inflation enables the European Central Bank to maintain its accommodative stance.

“Volatility is increasing as we head into this election”, said Kristina Hooper, global market strategist at Invesco in NY, which has $825-billion in assets. “I hear Madame Le Pen. anyone who says that they can make it otherwise is both irresponsible and a liar”.

“We heard the shots and people were running in every direction”.

Well, this time, the timing may be too much for France voters to take.

France has been under a state of emergency for almost a year and a half.