Battle Royal: French Presidential Debate

by Jordan Yerman | May 2, 2007 at 02:19 pm

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Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal go toe to toe in a televised debate, vying for supremacy in the imminent French election.

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.

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.

Mr Sarkozy won 31.2% and Ms Royal won 25.9% in the 22 April poll.

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.