But he is not intimidated by angry voters, instead of engaging in lively, sometimes conflicting debates. Ever since he and far-right nationalist rival Marine Le Pen qualified for the second round of France’s presidential election on April 24, Macron seemed eager to go to the polls to explain his policies and try to persuade the world. to give him a second term. On Tuesday, he was asked tough questions during a visit to the eastern city of Mulhouse. “Why did you not help the poorest?” “Why do hospitals suffer from shortages of beds and shortages of health workers?” “How can you propose to raise the retirement age from 62 to 65 when so many people are unemployed?” The 44-year-old leader seemed determined to explain his policies at length – but sometimes became impatient as people continued to oppose him. Ahead of Sunday’s run-off election with 12 candidates, Macron missed most of his campaign, focusing his time at the Elysee Palace on diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. Domestic critics have denounced the perceived lack of debate in France’s presidential campaign. He has now taken on the role of candidate. Macron is considered the favorite from the polls, but Lepen seems to have significantly reduced the difference since 2017, when she defeated her in the same presidential round. On Monday, Macron went to an economically disadvantaged area in northern France that is considered Le Pen’s stronghold. The next day, he visited the eastern cities of Mulhouse and Strasbourg, where far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who came in on Sunday, won a majority in the first round. Upon arrival at Mulhouse, Macron literally ran to the small crowd waiting for him. He met some supporters, but also angry, discouraged employees from a nearby public hospital who came to challenge him. “We are exhausted,” some nurses told him. “Improve our working conditions!” A 61-year-old health worker said he worked for 30 years and earns only 1,885 euros ($ 2,051) a month. “I do not think about myself. “I think of my children, my grandchildren,” he said, explaining his vote. Macron cited changes his government had made in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a small pay rise for hospital staff. “Did your profits increase?” asked. “We do not feel the impact,” the man replied. Another health worker asked him about hospitals that “lose beds” as the pandemic continues. “I know, this is the challenge we face,” Macron said, adding that the issue was the lack of trained hospital staff, a situation that is growing in an area where many French people are looking for work in neighboring Germany and Switzerland where wages are higher. “Two years ago, I made commitments… and salaries increased. “And 183 euros ($ 199) a month, you can not say that it is nothing”, Macron insisted. Another major obstacle has repeatedly come in the way of Macron: his planned retirement is changing. Macron wants to raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65, which he says is necessary for France to continue funding pensions. Le Pen says she will keep her retirement age at 62. The issue sparked large street protests in late 2019 and Macron then had to postpone his plans amid the COVID-19 crisis. “We need to work harder,” Macron said. “It is not true that we can continue to fund our social model if we do not push back (retirement age).” He went on to reiterate that the pension changes would be implemented very gradually by 2031 and opened the door to soften the reform, as it seeks to attract voters who chose other candidates in the first round. At a rally in the square next to the 12th-century Strasbourg Cathedral, which houses the European Parliament, disapproval was cut short by Macron’s speech on Europe, but they failed to destabilize him. Instead, he spontaneously responded to the criticism and called on his supporters and opponents to respect each other. Le Pen’s supporters credit the months of her campaign in the provinces of France for her strong presence in the first round. But as Macron finally got into the fight, he tried to distinguish between their campaigns, criticizing those candidates “who never go to meet opponents.” “I’m not just going to meet people who like me,” he said.

Associated Press reporters Masha Macpherson and John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report.

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