French presidential candidate Le Pen softens position on euro exit

French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has sought to soften her position on euro exit saying that she felt European but understands French concerns about their savings. Many French people were thinking that their savings could lose value once the country returned to the franc.

During her interview on France's most watched television station TFI, Le Pen refused to say her stance on leaving euro. Her platform was to pull out the euros but some of her interviews contradicted it as she softened her views. On her campaign on Tuesday night, she avoided some of the incendiary attacks she made on the EU. She said that she was not an adversary of Europe. However, she said that she felt French first but also a European.

The French presidential candidate said during the interview that euro has been a weight on the French economy. She added that it has also led to an explosion of prices. However, when asked repeated questions, she evaded it. She simply answered that she would negotiate with the EU for France to regain more control over its economy. She said that the results of the negotiation would be put to a referendum. She also said that she was convincing the European to negotiate but she pointed out that the French have the final say.

Le Pen was competing with independent centrist Emannuel Macron for the presidency. However, the polls showed that Le Pen would lose the runoff in May by about 20 points. The polls revealed that her stand on euro exit would be the reason for not winning.

In her interview, she took aim at Macron saying that election was a choice between savage globalization and a society that regulates the excess of the country's economy, that controls the borders and that protects. She said that Macron was the France that submits to NATO, to the markets and to the Germans.

Macron will be the TV show's guest on Thursday. He has held a rally in the northern city of Arras on Wednesday while Le Pen was in Nice on Thursday.

Universty of Montpellier researcher in politics Nicolas Lebourg said that the economic side of Le Pen's program has scared some conservatives and retirees who were otherwise open her discussion on immigration and identity.

Euro was steadily underpinned by model-driven demand which it has climbed to a month-high versus the yen. Traders were expecting the Macron's victory in the second round vote would further underpin the euro allowing the currency to recoup the recent losses.