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French presidential election candidates set to face-off ahead of final vote French presidential election candidates set to face off before final vote
(40 minutes later)
A two-week battle to the political death between the rightwing Nicolas Sarkozy and the Socialist François Hollande has begun.A two-week battle to the political death between the rightwing Nicolas Sarkozy and the Socialist François Hollande has begun.
After months of competing with each other on factory forecourt visits, being garlanded with flowers in France's far-flung overseas territories, or holding vast open-air rallies in Paris, a new chapter has begun in which the two remaining candidates will not only host stadium gigs across France, but come face to face in a crucial live TV debate before the 6 May runoff. If the French election is a personality contest, leadership stature is all, something that will be tested to the limit over the next 14 days.After months of competing with each other on factory forecourt visits, being garlanded with flowers in France's far-flung overseas territories, or holding vast open-air rallies in Paris, a new chapter has begun in which the two remaining candidates will not only host stadium gigs across France, but come face to face in a crucial live TV debate before the 6 May runoff. If the French election is a personality contest, leadership stature is all, something that will be tested to the limit over the next 14 days.
Five years ago, Sarkozy rode a white horse around the Camargue dressed in a checked shirt and aviator shades to prove his virility in the ultimate election photo opportunity. This year the tone is likely to be more restrained.Five years ago, Sarkozy rode a white horse around the Camargue dressed in a checked shirt and aviator shades to prove his virility in the ultimate election photo opportunity. This year the tone is likely to be more restrained.
The backdrop of financial high drama weighs heavily. The eurozone's troubles, sovereign debt crisis and France's spiralling public debt have already set the tone. What is at stake is the future of the prized French social model of welfare protection, healthcare and benefits, and how it can be protected in a country so heavily in debt that its second biggest public expenditure after education is interest repayments.The backdrop of financial high drama weighs heavily. The eurozone's troubles, sovereign debt crisis and France's spiralling public debt have already set the tone. What is at stake is the future of the prized French social model of welfare protection, healthcare and benefits, and how it can be protected in a country so heavily in debt that its second biggest public expenditure after education is interest repayments.
France hasn't balanced a budget since 1974, it has among the highest public spending in western Europe and has to borrow to pay its public sector salaries and meet pensions payments. It has already lost its triple-A credit rating, unemployment is at a 12-year high of almost 10%. Many complain they can barely make ends meet at the end of the month, but voters are reluctant to sacrifice the welfare state to the altar of harsh austerity.France hasn't balanced a budget since 1974, it has among the highest public spending in western Europe and has to borrow to pay its public sector salaries and meet pensions payments. It has already lost its triple-A credit rating, unemployment is at a 12-year high of almost 10%. Many complain they can barely make ends meet at the end of the month, but voters are reluctant to sacrifice the welfare state to the altar of harsh austerity.
The morning after next month's final vote is already being billed as a nasty hangover as whoever is leader wakes up to the economic reality. Both Sarkozy and Hollande have accepted the imperative is balancing the books. They know there is little room for manoeuvre.The morning after next month's final vote is already being billed as a nasty hangover as whoever is leader wakes up to the economic reality. Both Sarkozy and Hollande have accepted the imperative is balancing the books. They know there is little room for manoeuvre.
But detailing spending cuts is hard in an election campaign where the word austerity remains taboo. Both candidates know that winning the presidency is a poisoned chalice in the current economic climate. With their hands tied by balance sheets, Hollande and Sarkozy could not make big promises of high-spending dreams. That's why the big dreams have come from the smaller candidates such as the radical left's Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Now it will be about what sort of France emerges from the crisis, and whether Paris can influence Europe's direction on austerity and the need for growth.But detailing spending cuts is hard in an election campaign where the word austerity remains taboo. Both candidates know that winning the presidency is a poisoned chalice in the current economic climate. With their hands tied by balance sheets, Hollande and Sarkozy could not make big promises of high-spending dreams. That's why the big dreams have come from the smaller candidates such as the radical left's Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Now it will be about what sort of France emerges from the crisis, and whether Paris can influence Europe's direction on austerity and the need for growth.
"The tone of the campaign so far has been deplorable, totally superficial," said one 52-year-old IT manager after voting in Paris. "They haven't addressed the real issue of public spending, because they know if they told the truth about what they have to cut they wouldn't get elected. They're avoiding it. I hope French people aren't stupid enough to put their head in the sand too.""The tone of the campaign so far has been deplorable, totally superficial," said one 52-year-old IT manager after voting in Paris. "They haven't addressed the real issue of public spending, because they know if they told the truth about what they have to cut they wouldn't get elected. They're avoiding it. I hope French people aren't stupid enough to put their head in the sand too."
The Sarkozy-Hollande face-off will be a battle as much about style as content. Right up until Sunday's first-round vote, the frenetic Sarkozy, known as the "president of bling" was apologising for what he called his lack of solemnity at the start of his presidency. He continues to be lampooned for celebrating his 2007 win in a flash Champs Élysées restaurant, holidaying on a billionaire businessman's yacht and telling a passerby "sod off, you prat" at an agricultural fair.The Sarkozy-Hollande face-off will be a battle as much about style as content. Right up until Sunday's first-round vote, the frenetic Sarkozy, known as the "president of bling" was apologising for what he called his lack of solemnity at the start of his presidency. He continues to be lampooned for celebrating his 2007 win in a flash Champs Élysées restaurant, holidaying on a billionaire businessman's yacht and telling a passerby "sod off, you prat" at an agricultural fair.
Hollande, a former Socialist party leader and self-styled Mr Normal, is promising what one media commentator called a "revolution of normality", toning down the trappings of a presidency so powerful it has come to be seen as an elected monarchy.Hollande, a former Socialist party leader and self-styled Mr Normal, is promising what one media commentator called a "revolution of normality", toning down the trappings of a presidency so powerful it has come to be seen as an elected monarchy.
At the start of his term in office, Sarkozy, who promised deep reforms, was briefly the most popular president since Charles de Gaulle, but then his approval ratings plunged and stayed low for four years. Just before the election campaign started, 70% of French people thought his record in office had been negative. On the campaign trail, he was jeered and jostled so badly in Bayonne that he had to hide in a bar until riot police cleared a safe passage for him. He accused the Socialists of stirring up protesters. The left countered that the president could not walk down the street in his own country.At the start of his term in office, Sarkozy, who promised deep reforms, was briefly the most popular president since Charles de Gaulle, but then his approval ratings plunged and stayed low for four years. Just before the election campaign started, 70% of French people thought his record in office had been negative. On the campaign trail, he was jeered and jostled so badly in Bayonne that he had to hide in a bar until riot police cleared a safe passage for him. He accused the Socialists of stirring up protesters. The left countered that the president could not walk down the street in his own country.
But Socialists know that Hollande cannot surf the anti-Sarkozy vote alone; he must also rally people to his programme. Hollande acknowledged in his final speech before the first-round vote that it was not enough to simply be the candidate who embodies a rejection of Sarkozy.But Socialists know that Hollande cannot surf the anti-Sarkozy vote alone; he must also rally people to his programme. Hollande acknowledged in his final speech before the first-round vote that it was not enough to simply be the candidate who embodies a rejection of Sarkozy.
Sarkozy's camp has said that from Monday, the clock rewinds to zero. A new battle begins. Sarkozy is likely to now turn the second-round race into a referendum on Hollande's personality, attacking him as feeble and untested. The right has repeatedly warned that unless Sarkozy is re-elected, France will face economic meltdown like Greece or Spain. The prime minister, François Fillon, said victory for the left would unleash unstoppable speculation against the euro. Almost 70% of French debt is held by foreign investors, who the right argues will be spooked by a Socialist win.Sarkozy's camp has said that from Monday, the clock rewinds to zero. A new battle begins. Sarkozy is likely to now turn the second-round race into a referendum on Hollande's personality, attacking him as feeble and untested. The right has repeatedly warned that unless Sarkozy is re-elected, France will face economic meltdown like Greece or Spain. The prime minister, François Fillon, said victory for the left would unleash unstoppable speculation against the euro. Almost 70% of French debt is held by foreign investors, who the right argues will be spooked by a Socialist win.
Hollande, who comes from the moderate centre ground of the Socialist camp, has countered that there is nothing to fear and criticised Sarkozy for stoking market jitters for his own electoral purposes. Every poll for a year has had Hollande winning the final runoff on 6 May. Some on the left argue that if the markets were to wobble, they would already have done so. But the right will continue to say that Hollande lacks international standing and government experience, and attack his policy of tax rises for the rich.Hollande, who comes from the moderate centre ground of the Socialist camp, has countered that there is nothing to fear and criticised Sarkozy for stoking market jitters for his own electoral purposes. Every poll for a year has had Hollande winning the final runoff on 6 May. Some on the left argue that if the markets were to wobble, they would already have done so. But the right will continue to say that Hollande lacks international standing and government experience, and attack his policy of tax rises for the rich.
Much will hang on the live TV debate between the candidates, expected to take place around 2 May. The two men, both 57, entered parliament on the same day in 1988 and have faced each other before in a handful of debates and conferences. Sarkozy has a formidable, rottweiler reputation in debates. His supporters say he will be hard to beat on TV. Hollande's team say a debate is no problem for the Socialist, known for his quickfire one-liners and unflappable calm. In May 1999, following one of the pair's most brusque TV face-offs, Le Monde reported Sarkozy had said afterwards of Hollande: "It's always the same, he's nice at the start and then it turns bad." Hollande interjected: "Whereas you're not nice at any stage."Much will hang on the live TV debate between the candidates, expected to take place around 2 May. The two men, both 57, entered parliament on the same day in 1988 and have faced each other before in a handful of debates and conferences. Sarkozy has a formidable, rottweiler reputation in debates. His supporters say he will be hard to beat on TV. Hollande's team say a debate is no problem for the Socialist, known for his quickfire one-liners and unflappable calm. In May 1999, following one of the pair's most brusque TV face-offs, Le Monde reported Sarkozy had said afterwards of Hollande: "It's always the same, he's nice at the start and then it turns bad." Hollande interjected: "Whereas you're not nice at any stage."
French voters are most concerned about jobs and the unemployment crisis, spending power and making ends meet, health and housing. Last month's shooting spree in Toulouse by Mohamed Merah, 24, who claimed inspiration from Al-Qaida, has not moved security, crime or terrorism to the forefront of concerns.French voters are most concerned about jobs and the unemployment crisis, spending power and making ends meet, health and housing. Last month's shooting spree in Toulouse by Mohamed Merah, 24, who claimed inspiration from Al-Qaida, has not moved security, crime or terrorism to the forefront of concerns.
Sarkozy's campaign slogan is "A strong France", with posters picturing him against a background of the sea. One of his last campaign walkabouts was at a life-jacket factory in Brittany. He did not appreciate journalists' jokes on the subject. His campaign for re-election has been resolutely rightwing, warning there were too many foreigners in France, following the extreme-right Marine Le Pen in arguing for more labelling of halal meat to protect French people from a Muslim invasion of their dinner plates, threatening to pull out of Europe's passport-free Schengen zone if more is not done to protect fortress Europe, and proposing a referendum on how to deal with the long-term unemployed.Sarkozy's campaign slogan is "A strong France", with posters picturing him against a background of the sea. One of his last campaign walkabouts was at a life-jacket factory in Brittany. He did not appreciate journalists' jokes on the subject. His campaign for re-election has been resolutely rightwing, warning there were too many foreigners in France, following the extreme-right Marine Le Pen in arguing for more labelling of halal meat to protect French people from a Muslim invasion of their dinner plates, threatening to pull out of Europe's passport-free Schengen zone if more is not done to protect fortress Europe, and proposing a referendum on how to deal with the long-term unemployed.
The second round will see him juggle that tone with reaching out to the centre ground. He has also attempted to restyle himself as a "president of the people". His wife, Carla Bruni, stressed the down-to-earth nature of the couple, suggesting she travelled round Paris by metro in a wig. But Sarkozy's spokeswoman, the former minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, when asked the price of a metro ticket, famously put it at €4 (£3.27), instead of €1.70.The second round will see him juggle that tone with reaching out to the centre ground. He has also attempted to restyle himself as a "president of the people". His wife, Carla Bruni, stressed the down-to-earth nature of the couple, suggesting she travelled round Paris by metro in a wig. But Sarkozy's spokeswoman, the former minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, when asked the price of a metro ticket, famously put it at €4 (£3.27), instead of €1.70.
At times, Sarkozy had seemed tired and glum on the campaign trail. At first, he blamed sleepless nights with his baby daughter. More recently, he has rallied his supporters, saying "I feel the wave mounting", and that he would "give it everything" until the end.At times, Sarkozy had seemed tired and glum on the campaign trail. At first, he blamed sleepless nights with his baby daughter. More recently, he has rallied his supporters, saying "I feel the wave mounting", and that he would "give it everything" until the end.
Hollande's campaign has been plodding and cautious, sticking largely to his manifesto, vowing that the rich would pay the highest price for getting France out of the crisis with tax raises, while deliberately avoiding promises to deliver too much. He vowed to balance France's budget but also to create new education posts and state-assisted jobs for the young. "It's our turn," he said at his last rally on Friday. "We'll give a successor to Francois Mitterrand." But he warned the battle was far from over.Hollande's campaign has been plodding and cautious, sticking largely to his manifesto, vowing that the rich would pay the highest price for getting France out of the crisis with tax raises, while deliberately avoiding promises to deliver too much. He vowed to balance France's budget but also to create new education posts and state-assisted jobs for the young. "It's our turn," he said at his last rally on Friday. "We'll give a successor to Francois Mitterrand." But he warned the battle was far from over.
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