Macron says Le Pen showing authoritarian streak after journalist ban

French President Emmanuel Macron, candidate for re-election in the 2022 French presidential election, attends a campaign meeting at the Place du Chateau near the Cathedral in Strasbourg, France April 12, 2022. REUTERS/Johanna Geron

PARIS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron launched a scathing attack on far-right rival Marine Le Pen on Wednesday, saying her true "authoritarian" intentions were showing after she banned a team of reporters and did not rule out a return to the death penalty.

Macron, a pro-European centrist, became president in 2017 after easily beating Le Pen when voters rallied behind him to keep the far-right out of power. This time, he faces a tougher challenge.