Keeley Franklin Published in Pendulum Newspaper on May 10, 2012 Link to Article: http://www.elonpendulum.

com/2012/05/french-presidential-debateevolves-into-playground-banter/

French Presidential Debate Turns into Playground Banter On May 3, 2012, millions of French households, including my own, tuned in to watch a heated presidential debate between the incumbent president Nicholas Sarkozy and his Socialist opponent Francois Hollande. The three-hour live debate was of critical importance to the candidates with the second round run-offs being right around the corner. The debate was a chance for each candidate to argue his position on critical issues such as the fiscal economy, social inequality, immigration policies, and the education system. The candidates went from defending their corners in a professional manner to kindergarten name-calling when the subject of stimulating the economy was brought up. The quarrelling and name-calling was almost too much to bear especially for a non-native French speaker. Sarkozy, a member of the National Front who is running for a second successive and final term in office, called his opponent names such as a little slanderer and an arrogant liar. He criticized his opponent for his lack of experience and ambiguous economic policies. The president also accused Hollande of representing only the unions, rather than all of France. Although Sarkozy came across as the aggressor, this was not to say Hollande acted meekly in response. Hollandes nickname little slanderer was the result of his claim that Sarkozy caused unemployment rates to increase by 1 million. That would be a record high and account for 10 percent of the French population. Hollande, although typically viewed as being well mannered with a convivial disposition, did not conclude his insults there. He accused Sarkozy of loving only the rich while maintaining that Sarkozy did not take proper responsibility for ruining the French economy. Hollande is said to be the favorite for the run-offs, which will take place on May 6, 2012. According to opinion polls, Hollande is in the lead by seven percent. Part of this

has to do with his plan to stimulate the economy by taxing the wealthy; he plans to implement a 75 percent rate tax on those with an annual income of more than 1 million. According to my politically passionate host father, Olivier Quereau Lamerie, Hollandes stimulus programs, in addition to many other policies, are unrealistic and will eventually become unfulfilled promises. In addition to executing taxes, Hollande promises to create 60,000 teaching jobs and 150,000 subsidized jobs in areas of high unemployment. Lamerie believes that if Hollande were able to follow through with certain policies, he would create shock financial markets within the European Union and cause a rift in he relationship between France and Germany. Hollande claims he will generate more industry in France by creating a public investment bank and can pull French troops out of Afghanistan earlier than NATO initially planned; this is difficult considering France has the fifth-largest contingent in Afghanistan. Sarkozy, an advocate for military action, also agreed with accelerated withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of 2013. It is a tough call as to who will win the presidential election. However, with the opinion polls dictating a lead for Hollande and the sentiment that only two-thirds of National Front voters will support the president, Sarkozy may need to forget about insults and work on improving his campaign.