The 11 candidates in France’s presidential race are preparing to face off in a crucial debate Tuesday evening, less than three weeks before the first round of the election. (Lionel Bonaventure/Pool Photo via AP) (Associated Press)PARIS — Far-right French presidential contender Marine Le Pen made “a serious mistake” by denying that the French State was responsible for the roundup of Jews in World War II, her main rival said Monday. “Some had forgotten that Marine Le Pen is the daughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen,” Macron, the front-runner in the April 23-May 7 two-round election, told BFM TV. Le Pen said Sunday on RTL radio “I don’t think France is responsible for the Vel d’Hiv,” in reference to the stadium where many thousands of Jews were rounded up in July 1942 before being sent to Nazi death camps. In all, about 75,000 Jews were deported from France to Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

Source: Washington Post April 10, 2017 08:27 UTC