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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| French rivals clash in TV debate | French rivals clash in TV debate |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The two candidates vying to be French president have gone head-to-head in a highly anticipated TV debate. | The two candidates vying to be French president have gone head-to-head in a highly anticipated TV debate. |
| Conservative frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal clashed over employment, the economy and law and order issues. | Conservative frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal clashed over employment, the economy and law and order issues. |
| The face-off was screened by France's two biggest TV channels and expected to be seen by up to 20 million people. | The face-off was screened by France's two biggest TV channels and expected to be seen by up to 20 million people. |
| The debate was seen as a decisive battle in swaying undecided voters ahead of Sunday's second-round vote. | The debate was seen as a decisive battle in swaying undecided voters ahead of Sunday's second-round vote. |
| Mr Sarkozy won 31.2% and Ms Royal won 25.9% in the 22 April poll. | Mr Sarkozy won 31.2% and Ms Royal won 25.9% in the 22 April poll. |
| On the attack | On the attack |
| Ms Royal criticised Mr Sarkozy's record in government during the debate, particularly on crime and security - Mr Sarkozy's traditional forte. | Ms Royal criticised Mr Sarkozy's record in government during the debate, particularly on crime and security - Mr Sarkozy's traditional forte. |
| "In 2002, Mr Sarkozy, you talked about zero tolerance, but today you can see that the French are very worried about the rise in violence and aggression in French society," she said. | "In 2002, Mr Sarkozy, you talked about zero tolerance, but today you can see that the French are very worried about the rise in violence and aggression in French society," she said. |
| I don't think the French choose a president on the lone impression that they'll have after a two-hour debate Nicolas Sarkozy href="/1/hi/world/europe/6617835.stm">Presidential debate: Excerpts class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6357899.stm">Rivals' policies examined Ghettos mobilise for vote The former interior minister defended himself, saying the figures showed violent crime had fallen. | |
| The rivals also debated public sector reform and clashed over employment. Mr Sarkozy said the 35-hour week, which was brought in by the socialists, had been a disaster for the economy. He said France needed to work more. | The rivals also debated public sector reform and clashed over employment. Mr Sarkozy said the 35-hour week, which was brought in by the socialists, had been a disaster for the economy. He said France needed to work more. |
| "She [Royal] still thinks that you have to share out the work like pieces of a cake," Mr Sarkozy said. "Not a single country in the world accepts this logic, which is a monumental mistake". | "She [Royal] still thinks that you have to share out the work like pieces of a cake," Mr Sarkozy said. "Not a single country in the world accepts this logic, which is a monumental mistake". |
| He also criticised Ms Royal's pension policy as vague. | He also criticised Ms Royal's pension policy as vague. |
| Mr Sarkozy and Ms Royal are hoping to win votes from the 18% of voters who backed the third-placed candidate, centrist Francois Bayrou, as well as those who supported far-right nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen. | Mr Sarkozy and Ms Royal are hoping to win votes from the 18% of voters who backed the third-placed candidate, centrist Francois Bayrou, as well as those who supported far-right nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen. |
| The TV audience is expected to be larger than that which watched France lose to Italy in the football World Cup final, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris. | The TV audience is expected to be larger than that which watched France lose to Italy in the football World Cup final, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris. |
| 'Decisive' moment | 'Decisive' moment |
| Former President Valery Giscard d'Estaing was author of the put-down, "You don't have a monopoly of the heart", in the 1974 presidential election debate with his rival Francois Mitterrand. | Former President Valery Giscard d'Estaing was author of the put-down, "You don't have a monopoly of the heart", in the 1974 presidential election debate with his rival Francois Mitterrand. |
| He says that debate helped him win the election, and predicts that the Sarkozy-Royal showdown will be "decisive". | He says that debate helped him win the election, and predicts that the Sarkozy-Royal showdown will be "decisive". |
| But other commentators say more than 80% of French people have already decided how they are going to vote. | But other commentators say more than 80% of French people have already decided how they are going to vote. |
| Mr Sarkozy played down the significance of encounter, telling French radio before the debate: "I don't think the French choose a president on the lone impression that they'll have after a two-hour debate." | Mr Sarkozy played down the significance of encounter, telling French radio before the debate: "I don't think the French choose a president on the lone impression that they'll have after a two-hour debate." |
| The last head-to-head presidential-race debate - Jacques Chirac versus Socialist Lionel Jospin in 1995 - drew 17 million viewers. | The last head-to-head presidential-race debate - Jacques Chirac versus Socialist Lionel Jospin in 1995 - drew 17 million viewers. |
| Mr Chirac won the first of his two terms that year. In 2002, he refused to debate with Mr Le Pen. | Mr Chirac won the first of his two terms that year. In 2002, he refused to debate with Mr Le Pen. |