France's Sarkozy, Royal do battle in TV debate

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

France's Sarkozy, Royal do battle in TV debate

By Crispian Balmer
49 minutes ago

PARIS (Reuters) - With four days to go before France's presidential
election, candidates Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal faced off on
Wednesday in a televised debate that could determine the eventual
winner.

Socialist candidate Royal, the underdog in opinion polls, immediately
attacked Sarkozy for the record of the outgoing rightist government,
in which he served as both interior minister and finance minister.

"You are in part responsible for the situation in which France finds
itself today," a hard-hitting Royal said in her opening remarks,
accusing the government of failing to tackle unemployment and
overseeing an increase in street crime.

The first and only debate in the fierce election race was shown live
on two main television channels and was expected to be watched by
nearly half of France's 44.5 million voters.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070502/wl_nm/france_election_dc

[geardaddy]

1. Go Royal!!

I love me some Segolene!

[Hieronymus]

11. She's drop dead gorgeous.

[bluestateguy]

2. Didn't Le Pen tell his fascist underlings not to vote in the runoff?

That could be good news for Royal, as I would assume those votes would have gone to Sarkozy.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Yes

Le Pen calls on voters to abstain

Whether they'll listen to him is another matter, of course.

I call on voters who have shown their confidence in me to cast their vote neither for Madame Royal nor for Mr Sarkozy and to abstain en masse," he said.

Socialist 'danger'

Despite Mr Le Pen's instructions, analysts believe that a large majority of his supporters will plump for the centre-right candidate, Mr Sarkozy, who has set out a tough stance on immigration and crime.

[Laughing Mirror]

10. Marine Le Pen, his daughter, estimates half will vote nonetheless

And of that half of the Le Pen/Front National's 4 million or so votes, Marine Le Pen predicts Sarkozy will get about 30% and Royal 20%.

[Laughing Mirror]

3. The debate is underway at this moment

This is an example of a story that is written before the story happens.

[bikebloke]

4. Here's a blog, while it's happening.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/archives/2007/05/02/liveblogging_le_debate.html

From the sound of it, Sego is doing well.

[Mass]

6. A real debate - Nothing to do with American debates.

The candidates actually debate about big questions, and the TV anchors are basically silent. Nothing to do with the parallel stump speech we got last week in South Carolina.

(already 2 hours in the debate and it is not finished ...)

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

7. Sparks fly in fierce Sarkozy, Royal TV debate

Source: Yahoo News

PARIS (Reuters) - Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal and her rightist rival Nicolas Sarkozy exchanged verbal jabs during an ill-tempered televised debate on Wednesday that could determine the winner of Sunday's run off election.

Trailing in the opinion polls, Royal came out fighting from the start of the marathon clash, immediately challenging Sarkozy over the record of the outgoing rightist government, in which he served as both interior minister and finance minister.

"What have you done during the past five years? There is a problem of credibility here," Royal said, often interrupting Sarkozy during quickfire exchanges on a range of issues from the economy to security, from nuclear energy to pensions.

Regularly knocked onto the defensive by the combative attacks of Royal, Sarkozy at one point accused his rival of losing her temper during a row over schools for the disabled.


Read more: http://www.insideworld.com/r/?wid=310604&sid=2dc8cc3bf3c99d015b5490e954a1fab1

---

Royal looked very strong in this debate, which ran to about 70 minutes for each of the participants. BTW - it was really and truly wonderful to see an intellectual, civilized debate on issues of great national import. How I wish we could be as astute as the French when it comes to public discourse.

I think Royal must have persuaded at least 3% of the populace with her performance. At times, she derided Sarko for his views, all the time appearing quite composed and "in charge".

I myself have a better understanding of Segolene Royal after seeing her in action. She is one tough cookie. She had Sarko on the defensive from the start of the debate.

FRANCE'S ROYAL ACCUSES SARKOZY OF 'POLITICAL IMMORALITY'

[Hieronymus]

8. Does anyone know if C-SPAN will show the debate?

[Hieronymus]

9. The debate will be shown on C-SPAN AT 3:55 AM EST 5/3/07

[lanlady]

12. I watched the debate--it was great

So different from the American formula. The two sat and faced each other and engaged in a real, lively dialogue. The debate was scheduled for 2 hours but went overtime by 30 or 40 minutes.

Both Segolene and "Snarkozy" as I like to call him, are eloquent defenders of their respective views. She was more combative, and interrupted him a lot. In the end, though, I think he got in the better points and ripostes.

I like Sego very much -- problem is, she is a true believer in heavy-handed state intervention in socio-economic affairs, which is the LAST thing France needs now. She has no plan to deal with France's crushing debt or unemployment, and her plan to "de-bureaucratize" the state consists of shuffling cadres around. If she's elected, I'm afraid France will continue in its downward spiral and stand in continued stark contrast to, say, the newly revitalized German economy.

PS--Snarkozy is a little Mussolini, I don't think he's a good choice either. The best candidate in terms of solid ideas was Francois Bayrou, who was eliminated in the first round. Unfortunately he's too dull a personality.