Posted on 05/02/2007 3:47:23 PM PDT by Cincinna
FRENCH CANDIDATES WRANGLE OVER JOB CRISIS IN TELEVISION DEBATE
May 2, 2007 (AFP)
Right winger Nicolas Sarkozy and socialist Segolene Royal held tense exchanges over employment and the 35-hour working week in a televised debate Wednesday seen as crucial for the French presidential campaign.
Seated on either side of a two-metre (six foot) table, disagreements between Sarkozy, who finished first in the opening round, and Royal repeatedly flared into moments of ill-restrained hostility.
Four days before the election, more than half the country's adult population was estimated to be watching the two hour confrontation which was dominated by the economy.
Dressed in a dark suit and tie, Sarkozy repeated his promise to cut the number of public employees -- prompting accusations from Royal that he would endanger health, education and the police.
He said he would ensure full employment in France in five years by "freeing the forces of labour", and said the 35-hour week -- introduced by the last socialist government -- was killing employment. France currently has one of the highest unemployment rates in western Europe.
"She (Royal) still thinks that you have to share out the work like pieces of a cake. Not a single country in the world accepts this logic, which is a monumental mistake," he said.
Royal, wearing a black jacket and white blouse, countered with a promise to create 500,000 youth jobs, funded from existing training and unemployment budgets. She questioned Sarkozy's citation of an economic think-tank that said his programme would benefit the economy more than Royal's.
This prompted Sarkozy to ask: "Why do you treat anyone who is not of your opinion with irony, even with contempt?".
On several occasions, to Sarkozy's proposals, Royal retorted with the remark: "What a pity you didn't do that during your five years in government".
Televised debates have been held between the finalists in every French election since 1974 -- except in 2002 when Jacques Chirac refused to meet far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen.
Both the Sarkozy and Royal camps know that their encounter could be crucial in determining the choice of millions of uncommitted voters.
Nearly seven million people chose defeated centrist Francois Bayrou in the first round on April 22, and the second-round campaign has focussed on capturing his electorate.
The debate was watched in screens in cafes and bars across the country -- though there was competition from an important European cup football match.
"Everything she says touches me, it's all true," said David Zeymour, a 43-year-old grocer at a bar in central Paris. "I voted Sarkozy in the first round, but now frankly I've changed my mind. I'm 100-percent behind Segolene. Sarkozy is scary."
"He's staying cool. She's more aggressive, she's trying to block him, but lucky for him he's giving good answers," said Jean-Philippe Girbal, the 35-year-old cafe owner.
The pair have faced each other only once before in a debate. Just before the 1993 legislative elections they had an ill-tempered exchange in a television studio, a clip of which has been circulating on the Internet.
Campaigning for the second round ends on Friday at midnight. On Thursday the two candidates hold their last rallies, Royal in the northern city of Lille and Sarkozy in Montpellier in the south.
The latest opinion poll released by IPSOS on Tuesday gave Sarkozy 53.5 percent of the vote against 46.5 percent for Royal. A total of 87 percent said they had made up their mind.
In the first round, Sarkozy got 31.2 percent of the vote and Royal 25.9 percent. Le Pen got 10.4 percent.
On Tuesday Le Pen urged his 3.8 million voters not to vote for Sarkozy or Royal. Bayrou has not issued an endorsement for either candidate.
Giscard d'Estaing, who took part in two televised debates with Mitterrand in 1974 and 1981, said the head-to-head between Sarkozy and Royal would be the "decisive ... high-point of the campaign".
In the 1974 debate Giscard d'Estaing coined the phrase "You do not have a monopoly on the heart", which was seen as giving him the edge. He went on to win by a very small majority.
FRANCE'S ROYAL ACCUSES SARKOZY OF 'POLITICAL IMMORALITY'
French Socialist Segolene Royal launched a stinging attack on right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy in a crucial presidential debate on Wednesday, accusing him of "political immorality."
Reacting to comments in which Sarkozy called for handicapped children to be guaranteed a place in school, Royal said that he had "reached a pinnacle of political immorality".
Royal accused his governnent of dismantling Socialist education measures on handicapped children, accusing him of exploiting the issue, "with a tear in your eye."
Sarkozy, who remained calm throughout the attack, retorted sharply: "I would never have spoken to you this way" -- to which Royal fired back: "Because I don't lie."
Wrapping up the explosive exchange, Sarkozy said: "I don't question your sincerity, don't question my morality... You lose your temper very easily."
Four days before the election, more than half the country's adult population was estimated to be watching the televised confrontation, seen as crucial to the outcome of the election.
Sarko was calm, clear, soft spoken, polite, respectful and courteous.
Royal, dressed in a Hillary-like Mao shirt and a man-tailored jacket was shrill, harsh, rude, and disrespectful, both of Sarko, and the rules of the debate. She showed herself to be the hard core Socialist she is, in almost Stalinist martinet fashion, like a school marm. Speaking to Sarko with disdain, mocking him, even laughing, she proved herself to be the BOBO 68ist she is, and what she represents. The undisciplined, smug, self superior elitist who knows what is best for everyone.
IMO she clearly lost the debate. Her fawning over the Centrist Bayrou forgotten, she alienated more moderate voters on the Left, and in the Center.
I would venture a guess and say she gave away at least two points.
Bookmarked for later, thanks.
Thanks for the post and analysis...
Unless there is something out of the ordinary Sarkozy is going to be another win for the free world. How great it is, now we just need Italy, Spain, and someone from the conservative party in Britain that believes in Iraq and the war on terror.
Suuuuuure you voted for Sarko in the first round. Suuuure. And are just now changing your mind dramatically. How do you say "seminar caller" in French?
“shrill, harsh, rude, and disrespectful,”
Sounds like most women in executive positions. Why do they turn that way Men are graceful and women become bitter and angry.
FYI, here is al-Reuters’ take on the debate(sounds like they could not spin it too much against Sarko): http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-05-02T213906Z_01_L01218647_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-FRANCE-ELECTION-COL.XML
ROYAL: “I want to raise small pensions straight away.”
SARKOZY: “How will you pay for it?”
ROYAL: “I will tell you. I will put extra funds in the pension funds reserve.”
SARKOZY: “Very good, where do you get the money from?”
ROYAL: “From a tax on stock exchange revenues.
SARKOZY: “Of how much?”
ROYAL: “The social partners (unions and business leaders) will discuss it. But at least the principle is established.”
SARKOZY: “How much will you put in the fund?”
ROYAL: “I’m just setting out the principle. I have a plan.”
SARKOZY: “No, no, hang on, this is very interesting. This tax you are creating, for us — when (Socialist prime minister) Lionel Jospin created this (pension reserve) fund, it was to have 120 billion euros. There are 36 billion in it, each year the state puts in 6 billion. Your tax, roughly, how much is it?
ROYAL: “My tax will be at the level necessary for social justice.”
SARKOZY: “That’s a stunning piece of detail. Can’t you give us a figure?”
ROYAL: “No I can’t.”
SARKOZY: “I see”
ROYAL: “Why not, why can’t I give you a figure?”
SARKOZY: “That’s your right.
ROYAL: “Why can’t I give you a figure? Because the resumption of growth will also create additional revenues.”
SARKOZY: “So you are going to create a tax without telling the French people how much it’s going to be, and how much you hope to gain from this tax? That’s really going to be a great help to the balance of our pension funds.”
Wouldn’t it be something if the French were to elect a strong and resolute leader who takes a tough stand against illegal immigrants and in favor of national sovereignty, and the US surrenders and retreats from Iraq?
Wasn’t that little thing NASTY of her at the end when the moderators asked the two to comment the other on their plusses (or something), and she totally blew him off by refusing to .
Very uncalled for and unreasonable comment.
Tell that to Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, Golda Meir, and our own women leaders, Condi Rice, Kay Bailey Hutchinson,and others.
LOL! The French media version of phony "I'm a lifelong Republican but am now voting for the far, left kook."
ROYAL: “I’m just setting out the principle. I have a plan.”
LOL
Thanks for the great translation.
It got even worse later on.
Royal showed that she does not have the temperament to be President of a great country. She was angry, and admitted she was, was short tempered, and rude.
Sarko looked and acted Presidential.
I love the guy just from reading that exchange.
Yes, it certainly was. Sarko was asked about what he thought of Royal, and he gave a reasonable, polite, answer.
Royal would not answer the question, saying she refuses to get into the personal. She then continued on with this sentence “I am the mother of four children etc.”
I hope we are not judgeing the debate as Americans. Who seems to have the right temperament, who was better prepared, more coherent. Who was spiteful, and who kept his sangfroid.
You're welcome, but it's straight from the Post. No speekie zee frog.
From what I see here, we would benefit greatly if the same kind of free-form debate were used in the US - our presidential debate format, while facilitating the use of slogans, bromides & banal generalities, makes it practically impossible to contrast between the candidates, let alone nail them down on the issues in any detail.
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