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| French rivals dispute TV honours | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Both French presidential candidates have claimed victory in Wednesday's at-times fiery televised debate ahead of Sunday's second election round. | Both French presidential candidates have claimed victory in Wednesday's at-times fiery televised debate ahead of Sunday's second election round. |
| Conservative frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal clashed over employment, the economy, the environment and law and order. | Conservative frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal clashed over employment, the economy, the environment and law and order. |
| Centrist leader Francois Bayrou has said he will not vote for Mr Sarkozy, without saying how he will vote. | Centrist leader Francois Bayrou has said he will not vote for Mr Sarkozy, without saying how he will vote. |
| The two candidates will hold their final rallies on Thursday evening. | The two candidates will hold their final rallies on Thursday evening. |
| Ms Royal will be in Lille, northern France, while Mr Sarkozy will finish off in Montpellier, in the south of the country. | Ms Royal will be in Lille, northern France, while Mr Sarkozy will finish off in Montpellier, in the south of the country. |
| I was a bit astonished at times by a certain aggressiveness in Madame Royal Nicolas Sarkozy You can never go too much on the offensive when it comes to defending convictions and values Segolene Royal class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6619277.stm">Press sees no winner | |
| Wednesday's debate was watched by an estimated 20 million people, about half of the electorate, but neither candidate was thought to have landed a decisive blow, analysts say. | Wednesday's debate was watched by an estimated 20 million people, about half of the electorate, but neither candidate was thought to have landed a decisive blow, analysts say. |
| "I don't think either managed to convince the other camp. Both spoke to their own electorate," said Anita Hausser, political commentator for LCI TV. | "I don't think either managed to convince the other camp. Both spoke to their own electorate," said Anita Hausser, political commentator for LCI TV. |
| According to an opinion poll published on Thursday, 53% of voters found Mr Sarkozy more convincing than Ms Royal who scored 31%. | According to an opinion poll published on Thursday, 53% of voters found Mr Sarkozy more convincing than Ms Royal who scored 31%. |
| The Opinionway poll, which was conducted after the debate on Wednesday night, was based on the views of some 900 internet users who watched it. | The Opinionway poll, which was conducted after the debate on Wednesday night, was based on the views of some 900 internet users who watched it. |
| Mr Bayrou, who has been strongly critical of Mr Sarkozy, said in an interview with Le Monde newspaper following Wednesday's debate: "I will not vote for Sarkozy." | Mr Bayrou, who has been strongly critical of Mr Sarkozy, said in an interview with Le Monde newspaper following Wednesday's debate: "I will not vote for Sarkozy." |
| He added that the conservative candidate "could further rip France's social fabric apart", but that he thought Ms Royal had "done rather well" in the debate. | He added that the conservative candidate "could further rip France's social fabric apart", but that he thought Ms Royal had "done rather well" in the debate. |
| He did not say whether he would back the socialist challenger or abstain, adding he would be unlikely to make a statement before the second round. | He did not say whether he would back the socialist challenger or abstain, adding he would be unlikely to make a statement before the second round. |
| Last week, Mr Bayrou said at a press conference he could not back either candidate as their current policies would not be good for the country. | Last week, Mr Bayrou said at a press conference he could not back either candidate as their current policies would not be good for the country. |
| Mr Sarkozy and Ms Royal were vying for votes from the 18% of voters who backed Mr Bayrou - who came third in the first round held on 22 April - as well as those who supported far-right nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen. | Mr Sarkozy and Ms Royal were vying for votes from the 18% of voters who backed Mr Bayrou - who came third in the first round held on 22 April - as well as those who supported far-right nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen. |
| Heated debate | Heated debate |
| Mr Sarkozy has said he thought the debate was dignified, though he found Ms Royal too combative. | Mr Sarkozy has said he thought the debate was dignified, though he found Ms Royal too combative. |
| "I was a bit astonished at times by a certain aggressiveness in Madame Royal," he told French radio. | "I was a bit astonished at times by a certain aggressiveness in Madame Royal," he told French radio. |
| Ms Royal, who during the debate accused Mr Sarkozy of "political immorality", defended her tough style. | Ms Royal, who during the debate accused Mr Sarkozy of "political immorality", defended her tough style. |
| "You can never go too much on the offensive when it comes to defending convictions and values," she said. | "You can never go too much on the offensive when it comes to defending convictions and values," she said. |
| It was temperament rather than trousers that were swapped Rivals' role reversal TV debate: Excerpts Rivals' policies examined | It was temperament rather than trousers that were swapped Rivals' role reversal TV debate: Excerpts Rivals' policies examined |
| During the debate, Ms Royal criticised Mr Sarkozy's record in government, particularly on crime and security - Mr Sarkozy's traditional forte. | During the debate, Ms Royal criticised Mr Sarkozy's record in government, 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. |
| The former interior minister defended himself, saying the figures showed violent crime had fallen. | The former interior minister defended himself, saying the figures showed violent crime had fallen. |
| The most heated exchange came during the second half of the debate as the contenders discussed school places for children with disabilities. | The most heated exchange came during the second half of the debate as the contenders discussed school places for children with disabilities. |
| Ms Royal accused Mr Sarkozy of "political immorality" for dismantling socialist measures on the issue. | Ms Royal accused Mr Sarkozy of "political immorality" for dismantling socialist measures on the issue. |
| Mr Sarkozy attacked his opponent for losing her temper - a criticism often levelled at Mr Sarkozy himself. | Mr Sarkozy attacked his opponent for losing her temper - a criticism often levelled at Mr Sarkozy himself. |
| 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. |
| He also criticised Ms Royal's pension policy as vague. | He also criticised Ms Royal's pension policy as vague. |
| Mr Sarkozy won 31.2% of the votes and Ms Royal won 25.9% in the first round of the election. | Mr Sarkozy won 31.2% of the votes and Ms Royal won 25.9% in the first round of the election. |