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French presidential candidates debate key election issues - live! | French presidential candidates debate key election issues - live! |
(35 minutes later) | |
10.43pm GMT | |
22:43 | |
Le Pen has spoken longer and louder than everyone else ... | |
Le Pen comes off as angry and incoherent, on health and pensions. But maybe it works for her electorate. #LeGrandDebat | |
10.39pm GMT | |
22:39 | |
Healthcare | |
Another lengthy and detailed discussion. | |
Mélenchon says everyone should be reimbursed in full for all their healthcare expenses: “We know how to fund that, it’s not complicated.” | |
Fillon says the system has to be “debureaucratised” and GPs need to be at the heart of the system. They need to be paid properly, to be able to work in teams. Hospitals need to be more independent. | |
Macron also wants healthcare professionals to have more autonomy. | |
Le Pen says France has to cut waste in its healthcare system. As a mother of three, she says, she could have started a pharmacy ... | |
UK observers should note the amount of time healthcare, pensions and employment issues are taking up in the French presidential debate | |
10.30pm GMT | |
22:30 | |
There is a lengthy debate on the age of retirement ... | |
Fillon proposes raising the retirement age to 65. | |
Macron says he will reform the pension system from top to bottom. It is unclear and confusing and unfair, he says. One euro paid into the system should be worth one euro at retirement age, he says. | |
10.25pm GMT | |
22:25 | |
Tweet of the night so far: “As president of the Republic, I would shorten presidential debates.” | |
Moi, président de la République, je raccourcirai les débats télévisés #DebatTF1 | |
10.19pm GMT | |
22:19 | |
Le Pen says Brexit is a huge success and the UK’s results are “formidable”. Everyone knows what I think of Europe and the euro, she says. | |
The other candidates laugh ... | |
hahahahaha Le Pen just mentioned Brexit and everyone in the room booed, hello there from French people in London | |
Updated | |
at 10.20pm GMT | |
10.15pm GMT | |
22:15 | |
Le Pen’s ideas on the economy are not entirely coherent, according to some: | |
Le Pen completely incoherent on economics. No figures. No specifics. Nothing. Very Trumplike. Will her voters care, though? #LeGrandDébat | |
Fillon accuses Le Pen of leading France “towards social and economic chaos”. | |
French rightwing candidate @FrancoisFillon accuses @MLP_officiel of leading France "towards social and economic chaos" in TV debate @AFP pic.twitter.com/VoY23PDOh5 | |
Updated | |
at 10.25pm GMT | |
10.12pm GMT | |
22:12 | |
Taxes: are they too high? | |
Hamon says the only new idea in the campaign is his: a universal basic income. | |
Fillon says France’s neighbours have not cut the working week and are doing better than France. Investment is key, he says. He is determined to raise purchasing power. | |
Macron says investment has to be increased and the social security charges companies pay have to be reduced. He says he will abolish property tax, paid by 85% of French citizens. | |
Fillon accuses him of being “a little bit left, a little bit right” – Macron replies that his policies are “effective, and fair”. | |
Wow! Macron says he will abolish property tax on all home owners which brings in €10 bn a year. Big bribe to middle France as 85% pay tax | |
Updated | |
at 10.17pm GMT | |
10.05pm GMT | 10.05pm GMT |
22:05 | 22:05 |
Le Pen says she does not want to enter into “a debate among ultra-liberals”. That model has shown its shortcomings, she says, it has “ruined our agriculture, ruined our industry”. | Le Pen says she does not want to enter into “a debate among ultra-liberals”. That model has shown its shortcomings, she says, it has “ruined our agriculture, ruined our industry”. |
France needs “economic patriotism” she says; the state must encourage French businesses, not foreign businesses. The EU encourages unfair competition and French industry pays the price. | France needs “economic patriotism” she says; the state must encourage French businesses, not foreign businesses. The EU encourages unfair competition and French industry pays the price. |
Updated | Updated |
at 10.07pm GMT | at 10.07pm GMT |
10.00pm GMT | 10.00pm GMT |
22:00 | 22:00 |
Quite a few observers agreeing that Fillon does not seem to be able to make his mark on this debate. “He’s trying, but it’s not getting through”: | Quite a few observers agreeing that Fillon does not seem to be able to make his mark on this debate. “He’s trying, but it’s not getting through”: |
Fillon n'arrive pas à prendre la parole. Ni face à Mélenchon ni face à Macron... Il essaie mais ça ne passe pas #DebatTF1 | Fillon n'arrive pas à prendre la parole. Ni face à Mélenchon ni face à Macron... Il essaie mais ça ne passe pas #DebatTF1 |
9.57pm GMT | 9.57pm GMT |
21:57 | 21:57 |
A trace of irony: | A trace of irony: |
Mélenchon has a good plan to reduce unemployment: "You create 300,000 jobs here, 300,000 jobs there..." #Nobel #FrenchPresidentialDebate | Mélenchon has a good plan to reduce unemployment: "You create 300,000 jobs here, 300,000 jobs there..." #Nobel #FrenchPresidentialDebate |
9.56pm GMT | 9.56pm GMT |
21:56 | 21:56 |
#presidential2017 #legranddebat Hamon says firms must look at "stress, anxiety, length of service and burn-out" + organise work differently | #presidential2017 #legranddebat Hamon says firms must look at "stress, anxiety, length of service and burn-out" + organise work differently |
9.55pm GMT | 9.55pm GMT |
21:55 | 21:55 |
The economy | The economy |
Unemployment is a major and stubborn problem in France. What’s the solution? | Unemployment is a major and stubborn problem in France. What’s the solution? |
Fillon says countries around France have managed full employment. So why haven’t we? Employees must be able to negotiate hours with employers on a company-by-company basis, he says: “Give companies the freedom ... to organise themselves.” | Fillon says countries around France have managed full employment. So why haven’t we? Employees must be able to negotiate hours with employers on a company-by-company basis, he says: “Give companies the freedom ... to organise themselves.” |
Macron says he is not suggesting abolishing France’s 35-hour week. He says the law should set the framework and principles, but companies and industrial sectors should be able to decide. And he wants a cut in corporation tax. | Macron says he is not suggesting abolishing France’s 35-hour week. He says the law should set the framework and principles, but companies and industrial sectors should be able to decide. And he wants a cut in corporation tax. |
Hamon says we need to take account now of the impact of automation. “I will be the candidate of a decent wage,” he says, and in an increase in the minimum wage. | Hamon says we need to take account now of the impact of automation. “I will be the candidate of a decent wage,” he says, and in an increase in the minimum wage. |
Mélenchon says he is interesting in creating jobs by filling company order books; he will invest €100bn in future technologies. | Mélenchon says he is interesting in creating jobs by filling company order books; he will invest €100bn in future technologies. |
9.44pm GMT | 9.44pm GMT |
21:44 | 21:44 |
Xavier Frison from Marianne magazine says Fillon is effectively absent from the debate, “inaudible, the big loser of the evening so far”: | Xavier Frison from Marianne magazine says Fillon is effectively absent from the debate, “inaudible, the big loser of the evening so far”: |
Point d'étape : #Fillon, l'air absent, inaudible, le grand perdant de la soirée pour le moment. #LeGrandDebat | Point d'étape : #Fillon, l'air absent, inaudible, le grand perdant de la soirée pour le moment. #LeGrandDebat |
9.42pm GMT | 9.42pm GMT |
21:42 | 21:42 |
A break ... | A break ... |
We’ve taken a break, I presume a commercial one ... | We’ve taken a break, I presume a commercial one ... |
A few instant reactions: Le Figaro’s London correspondent reckons it isn’t everyone against Macron but everyone against Le Pen. Hamon and Le Pen are gunning for Macron, Fillon is reserved and Mélenchon is almost “acting as referee”: | A few instant reactions: Le Figaro’s London correspondent reckons it isn’t everyone against Macron but everyone against Le Pen. Hamon and Le Pen are gunning for Macron, Fillon is reserved and Mélenchon is almost “acting as referee”: |
#LeGrandDebat devait être tous contre Macron. En fait c'est ts contre Le Pen, Hamon et MLP contre Macron, Fillon discret, Mélenchon arbitre. | #LeGrandDebat devait être tous contre Macron. En fait c'est ts contre Le Pen, Hamon et MLP contre Macron, Fillon discret, Mélenchon arbitre. |
9.36pm GMT | 9.36pm GMT |
21:36 | 21:36 |
Energy, nuclear power, environment | Energy, nuclear power, environment |
Hamon says France should close its old nuclear reactors and invest more in wind power. | Hamon says France should close its old nuclear reactors and invest more in wind power. |
Fillon says France’s nuclear industry must be safe. | Fillon says France’s nuclear industry must be safe. |
Macron says he wants a 50-50 split between nuclear and renewable by 20150. He says clean air is critical: diesel cars should no longer get tax breaks; one million homes should be made more energy-efficient. | Macron says he wants a 50-50 split between nuclear and renewable by 20150. He says clean air is critical: diesel cars should no longer get tax breaks; one million homes should be made more energy-efficient. |
Le Pen says the freetrade, “ultra-liberal model” is intrinsically bad for the environment because it encourages production on the other side of the globe. She defends diesel, says French drivers who were encouraged to buy them should not be penalised. | Le Pen says the freetrade, “ultra-liberal model” is intrinsically bad for the environment because it encourages production on the other side of the globe. She defends diesel, says French drivers who were encouraged to buy them should not be penalised. |
Updated | Updated |
at 9.46pm GMT | at 9.46pm GMT |
9.31pm GMT | 9.31pm GMT |
21:31 | 21:31 |
Morality in public life | Morality in public life |
Asked how to restore a sense of morality in public life – with several of the participants embroiled in assorted judicial and other inquiries: | Asked how to restore a sense of morality in public life – with several of the participants embroiled in assorted judicial and other inquiries: |
Fillon says he will set up a commission should be set up to improve transparency and guarantee good conduct. | Fillon says he will set up a commission should be set up to improve transparency and guarantee good conduct. |
Macron says conflicts of interests must be abolished as far as humanly possible; all relations with lobbyists must be disclosed; MPs’ pay must be made completely transparent; the rules must be clear. | Macron says conflicts of interests must be abolished as far as humanly possible; all relations with lobbyists must be disclosed; MPs’ pay must be made completely transparent; the rules must be clear. |
Mélenchon says MPs should not be able to do consultancy work, and hiring family members – common practice in France – should be banned. | Mélenchon says MPs should not be able to do consultancy work, and hiring family members – common practice in France – should be banned. |
Le Pen says the campaign has helped French voters realise that some candidates are defending the interests of major groups rather than of the French people. She has a dig at Macron here, a former banker: “Private interests have invited themselves into this campaign.” | Le Pen says the campaign has helped French voters realise that some candidates are defending the interests of major groups rather than of the French people. She has a dig at Macron here, a former banker: “Private interests have invited themselves into this campaign.” |
Macron comes close to accusing her of defamation, saying she has accused him of a conflict of interest – if she believes that, she should file a formal complaint, he says, or keep her silence. | Macron comes close to accusing her of defamation, saying she has accused him of a conflict of interest – if she believes that, she should file a formal complaint, he says, or keep her silence. |