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France election: Leading candidates spar in TV debate France election: Leading candidates spar in TV debate
(35 minutes later)
The five leading candidates in the French election are appearing in the first TV debate of its kind.The five leading candidates in the French election are appearing in the first TV debate of its kind.
They have been clashing over policing, the age of criminal responsibility and immigration.
Recent polls show Marine Le Pen of the far-right Front National getting most votes in the first round of voting.Recent polls show Marine Le Pen of the far-right Front National getting most votes in the first round of voting.
But they also show centrist Emmanuel Macron or scandal-hit centre-right candidate Francois Fillon defeating her in a second round run off.But they also show centrist Emmanuel Macron or scandal-hit centre-right candidate Francois Fillon defeating her in a second round run off.
Voters go to the polls on 23 April. A second round will be held on 7 May if necessary.Voters go to the polls on 23 April. A second round will be held on 7 May if necessary.
Read more on this storyRead more on this story
Previous elections have seen televised head-to-head debates between the two remaining candidates ahead of a second round of voting. In his opening remarks, Mr Fillon said that if elected, he would be the president of what he called the "national recovery".
But this is the first time the leading candidates have agreed to debate with each other before the first round. Mr Macron said he would change the country's traditional political divisiveness, while Ms Le Pen said she wanted a France that was not a "vague region" of the EU or subservient to Chancellor Angela Merkel's Germany.
French media reports suggest that both the front-runners - Ms Le Pen and Mr Macron - hope to gain credibility through their appearance. The BBC's Paris Correspondent Lucy Williamson says Mr Macron - who has never fought an election before - has the most to lose in the debate and will probably be attacked by his rivals.
Ms Le Pen is hoping to boost her appeal in order to have a chance of winning in an eventual second round, while Mr Macron - who has never fought an election before - wants to show he can do the job, Le Parisien newspaper reported. He will be hoping to show he can do the job.
On the left, Mr Hamon is hoping to differentiate himself from Mr Melenchon, who is hoping to use the debate to attract undecided voters, he newspaper said. Ms Le Pen, meanwhile, needs to boost her chances of winning an eventual second round while on the left, Mr Hamon is hoping to differentiate himself from Mr Melenchon, who is hoping to attract undecided voters, Le Parisien newspaper said.
Mr Fillon is looking to shake off the controversy surrounding payments to his wife for work she is alleged not to have carried out, and which are the subject of an investigation.Mr Fillon is looking to shake off the controversy surrounding payments to his wife for work she is alleged not to have carried out, and which are the subject of an investigation.