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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nicolas Sarkozy v François Hollande: les différences | Nicolas Sarkozy v François Hollande: les différences |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Nicolas Sarkozy | Nicolas Sarkozy |
| • Will balance French finances by 2016. | • Will balance French finances by 2016. |
| • Promises to call national referendums on compulsory training for the long-term unemployed and how to deal with illegal immigrants. | • Promises to call national referendums on compulsory training for the long-term unemployed and how to deal with illegal immigrants. |
| • In a bid to shed his reputation for favouring the rich, he promises to tax dividend income, apply a minimum 15% tax on major French corporations and introduce a levy for tax exiles who seek refuge abroad. | • In a bid to shed his reputation for favouring the rich, he promises to tax dividend income, apply a minimum 15% tax on major French corporations and introduce a levy for tax exiles who seek refuge abroad. |
| • To curb the excesses of the financial industry, Sarkozy promises tougher regulation on banks and the introduction of a financial transaction tax. | • To curb the excesses of the financial industry, Sarkozy promises tougher regulation on banks and the introduction of a financial transaction tax. |
| • Plans to raise VAT to fund a reduction in social charges for employers and lower the cost of labour. | • Plans to raise VAT to fund a reduction in social charges for employers and lower the cost of labour. |
| • Wants to halve the number of foreigners entering the country legally each year and increase deportations of illegal immigrants. Conditions for obtaining French papers and benefits will be tightened – Sarkozy has threatened to suspend France's membership of Europe's visa-free Schengen zone unless he sees progress on EU external border controls. | • Wants to halve the number of foreigners entering the country legally each year and increase deportations of illegal immigrants. Conditions for obtaining French papers and benefits will be tightened – Sarkozy has threatened to suspend France's membership of Europe's visa-free Schengen zone unless he sees progress on EU external border controls. |
| • Threatens to impose unilateral trade restrictions in public procurement unless the EU introduces "buy European" legislation within a year. | • Threatens to impose unilateral trade restrictions in public procurement unless the EU introduces "buy European" legislation within a year. |
| • Backs nuclear power but says renewable energy will make up 23% of power supply by 2020. | • Backs nuclear power but says renewable energy will make up 23% of power supply by 2020. |
| • In the wake of shootings by gunman Mohamed Merah, Sarkozy proposes making it an offence to access jihadist websites that glorify killing and to go abroad for jihadist indoctrination. | • In the wake of shootings by gunman Mohamed Merah, Sarkozy proposes making it an offence to access jihadist websites that glorify killing and to go abroad for jihadist indoctrination. |
| • Sarkozy opposes gay marriage and euthanasia. | • Sarkozy opposes gay marriage and euthanasia. |
| François Hollande | François Hollande |
| • Will balance French finances by 2017. | • Will balance French finances by 2017. |
| • Opposes a financial policy based only on austerity and has promised to renegotiate the European fiscal compact to include provisions on jobs and growth. | • Opposes a financial policy based only on austerity and has promised to renegotiate the European fiscal compact to include provisions on jobs and growth. |
| • His deficit-reduction measures include reversing tax breaks for the wealthy. Promises to target the rich with a 75% tax rate on those earning more than €1m a year and a 45% tax rate for those earning more than €150,000. He plans to limit executive pay to 20 times the average wage and cut the president's salary. | • His deficit-reduction measures include reversing tax breaks for the wealthy. Promises to target the rich with a 75% tax rate on those earning more than €1m a year and a 45% tax rate for those earning more than €150,000. He plans to limit executive pay to 20 times the average wage and cut the president's salary. |
| • Has outlined €20bn of new spending over five years, including creating 150,000 state-aided jobs to tackle youth unemployment, 60,000 posts in education and more police jobs. | • Has outlined €20bn of new spending over five years, including creating 150,000 state-aided jobs to tackle youth unemployment, 60,000 posts in education and more police jobs. |
| • Will restore the right to retire at 60 for those who began work at 18. | • Will restore the right to retire at 60 for those who began work at 18. |
| • Promises to fight discrimination with sanctions for companies failing to offer equal pay, the creation of a ministry of women's rights and the allocation of half the ministerial posts in his cabinet to women. | • Promises to fight discrimination with sanctions for companies failing to offer equal pay, the creation of a ministry of women's rights and the allocation of half the ministerial posts in his cabinet to women. |
| • Wants to curb financial excess by: separating retail and investment banking and imposing a financial transaction tax; banning toxic financial products and stock options; curbing bonuses; creating a European ratings agency; and stopping banks operating in offshore tax havens. | • Wants to curb financial excess by: separating retail and investment banking and imposing a financial transaction tax; banning toxic financial products and stock options; curbing bonuses; creating a European ratings agency; and stopping banks operating in offshore tax havens. |
| • Supports the creation of a public investment bank to support small businesses. | • Supports the creation of a public investment bank to support small businesses. |
| • He wants to reduce the share of nuclear energy in the power supply to 50% from 75% by 2025, and promises to close the ageing Fessenheim nuclear plant but complete work on the advanced Flamanville European pressurized reactor power station. | • He wants to reduce the share of nuclear energy in the power supply to 50% from 75% by 2025, and promises to close the ageing Fessenheim nuclear plant but complete work on the advanced Flamanville European pressurized reactor power station. |
| • Will allow gay marriage and adoption for gay couples. | • Will allow gay marriage and adoption for gay couples. |
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