Emmanuel Macron’s father made a rare public show of support to his “brave” son, calling the French a “very ungrateful” bunch, as the incumbent struggles to defend his record ahead of Sunday’s run-off against Marine Le Pen.

Virtually unknown to the French public, Jean-Michel Macron broke his silence to tell regional papers L’Alsace and L’Est Republicain that he approved of “90 per cent” of what his 44-year-old son had done for the country over the past five years.

“One is never 100 per cent in agreement. I’m not a member of a sect,” he said.

Speaking from his home in Amiens, northern France – where Emmanuel Macron was brought up – the 72-year-old neurologist said: “I have great admiration for the way he currently runs the country. I think you need a lot of courage and the French are very ungrateful, which is not new.”

Jean-Michel Macron praised his son’s handling of the Covid crisis and the war in Ukraine, claiming “not many European leaders have done what he has done”.

Asked whether he was afraid that Ms Le Pen could beat his son this time, he said: “No, not scared, but there is always a risk. I’m less stressed than five years ago.”

Two polls on Tuesday suggested that the incumbent was widening his lead in the run-off, predicting a score of 56-56.5 per cent. However, given the high number of undecided voters and abstentions, supporters have warned against complacency.

Jean Castex, the French prime minister, told France Inter radio: “The game isn’t over yet and we certainly can’t draw conclusions... that this election, this match, is already decided.”

The rare interview came as the two finalists prepared for a crunch presidential debate on Wednesday night that analysts said could prove decisive. 

Last time around, Ms Le Pen collapsed. But the Right-wing candidate now insisted she is far better prepared after sparring with an “enarque” with a near-identical education and background to her rival.

Whilst he was very close to his late grandmother, Emmanuel Macron is said to be distant from both his parents, who are separated, reportedly speaking to them three or four times a year. His father said that the last time his son paid a visit was in 2019.

It has been widely reported that they sent their son to Paris to finish his studies because they disapproved of his relationship with Brigitte, his drama teacher at the time and now wife, whom he met aged 16. She is 25 years his senior.

However, Jean-Michel Macron laid such claims to rest, calling them “fairy stories”, insisting that the plan had always been for him to go to the Lycee Henri IV, France’s top secondary school.

“Simply, it was perhaps a little early. But, well, what followed has shown that it was something solid,” he said of France’s first couple, who have been an item for 28 years.