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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| French Socialists set for debate | French Socialists set for debate |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Three candidates vying for the French Socialist Party's nomination in next year's presidential election are to take part in a televised debate. | Three candidates vying for the French Socialist Party's nomination in next year's presidential election are to take part in a televised debate. |
| Former Environment Minister Segolene Royal, the front-runner, will face former Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn and ex-PM Laurent Fabius. | Former Environment Minister Segolene Royal, the front-runner, will face former Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn and ex-PM Laurent Fabius. |
| Tuesday's televised debate will be the first of three between the contenders. | |
| The Socialists' candidate, to be chosen in November, is likely to face current Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy. | The Socialists' candidate, to be chosen in November, is likely to face current Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy. |
| Mr Sarkozy is the leader of the conservative UMP party. | Mr Sarkozy is the leader of the conservative UMP party. |
| Large lead | Large lead |
| As well as the three debates to be broadcast on television, the contenders are expected to take part in three public debates. | As well as the three debates to be broadcast on television, the contenders are expected to take part in three public debates. |
| Dominique Strauss-Kahn (left) and Laurent Fabius (AP pics) Profile: Socialist rivals | Dominique Strauss-Kahn (left) and Laurent Fabius (AP pics) Profile: Socialist rivals |
| Weeks have been spent agreeing a format for the debates, with Mr Strauss-Kahn and Mr Fabius arguing for lengthy confrontations on TV, and Ms Royal pushing for the encounters to less aggressive and more low-key. | Weeks have been spent agreeing a format for the debates, with Mr Strauss-Kahn and Mr Fabius arguing for lengthy confrontations on TV, and Ms Royal pushing for the encounters to less aggressive and more low-key. |
| Ms Royal had warned that too many debates could damage the party by making it appear divided in the eyes of the electorate. | Ms Royal had warned that too many debates could damage the party by making it appear divided in the eyes of the electorate. |
| "If there are too many debates... I reserve the right not to take part in them. I will go if necessary," the Reuters news agency quotes her as saying. | "If there are too many debates... I reserve the right not to take part in them. I will go if necessary," the Reuters news agency quotes her as saying. |
| Ms Royal's critics say she lacks clear policies and shies away from confrontation. | Ms Royal's critics say she lacks clear policies and shies away from confrontation. |
| Opinion polls give her a large lead over rivals. | Opinion polls give her a large lead over rivals. |