Three candidates vying for the French Socialist Party's nomination in next year's presidential election have gone on TV to debate their policies. Former Environment Minister Segolene Royal, the front-runner, faced ex-Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn and ex-PM Laurent Fabius.
Last night's televised debate was the first of three between the contenders. The Socialists' candidate who will be chosen in November, is then likely to face current Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, the leader of the conservative UMP party.
--In a BBC report, Emma Jane Kirby in Paris says there were few sparks in last night's two-hour debate.
The rules were extremely rigid and laid down well in advance. Weeks were 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 be less aggressive and more low-key. Filmed in a cable TV studio without an audience, there was no opportunity for the rivals to interrupt each other as they answered questions on the economy sent in by Socialist party members. Ms Royal, who is enjoying a 39% lead over her Socialist opponents, spoke largely about the need for France to rejuvenate its economy and to invest in new technology and research -- but sadly she did not commit herself to any definite policy or plan. ASs for one of the most contentious issues, the 35 hour week, she hedged around the question and did not give us her views. Mr Strauss-Kahn called for new talks between business and unions and for a reduction of France's debt, and Mr Fabius attacked France's "inequality and injustice" and "global financial hyper-capitalism". Critics accuse Ms Royal of being a political lightweight who is rich on style but poor on ideas, our correspondent says, but she proved she could hold her own against the Socialist old guard.
Ms Royal had warned that too many debates could damage the party by making it appear divided in the eyes of the electorate.
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