French rivals clash in debate
2007-05-03 07:18
Paris - Right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy and socialist rival Segolene Royal staged an often bad tempered televised debate on Wednesday that could have a crucial effect on France's presidential vote.
Facing each other across a white table, Royal, who trails in opinion polls ahead of Sunday's runoff vote, launched a volley of attacks on Sarkozy's record in government and their disagreements repeatedly flared into ill-restrained hostility.
An estimated 20 million viewers were engrossed by the two-and-a-half hours of exchanges on the reasons and cures for France's economic and social problems. But analysts said neither candidate delivered a knockout blow.
In the most fiery outburst, Royal charged Sarkozy with "political immorality" after he said that handicapped children should be guaranteed a place in ordinary schools.
"I am scandalised by what I have just heard," said an outraged Royal, accusing Sarkozy's government of dismantling Socialist Party education measures for the handicapped. "This is the height of political immorality."
Sarkozy, who remained calm in the attack, retorted with: "I don't question your sincerity, don't question my morality ... You lose your temper very easily."
Employment
Earlier Sarkozy repeated a pledge to cut the number of state workers - prompting accusations from Royal that he would endanger public health and education services.
Sarkozy said he would ensure full employment in France in five years by "freeing the forces of labour", and said the 35-hour working week - introduced by the last socialist government - was killing employment.
"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 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, Royal responded to Sarkozy's proposals by saying: "What a pity you didn't do that during your five years in government."
'I have much respect for her'
Asked at the end to comment on each other, Sarkozy said, "I have much respect for her. We have a lot of differences, but I hope here we have given an image of a renewed democracy, at ease with itself. I hold no personal animosity".
Royal said she would "refrain from personal remarks", preferring to concentrate on the clash of ideas.
The encounter could be decisive in determining the choice of millions of uncommitted voters on Sunday. Nearly seven million people chose defeated centrist Francois Bayrou in the first round on April 22, and the second-round campaign has focused on capturing his electorate.
Analysts said neither candidate had scored a decisive victory.
"There were two winners - with perhaps a slight advantage to Sarkozy. Neither fell into the trap prepared by the other. Sarkozy did not lose his temper and Royal did not come across as light-weight or incompetent," said Christophe Barbier, editor of l'Express magazine.