We remember debates from 1974, 1981, and 1988 where the future president justified his upcoming election by being more incisive, more at ease. Concerns were raised before the debate about Ségolène Royal having to face the impulsive Sarkozy. There were questions about whether the debate would be as boring as in 1995 when the election seemed decided between Jacques Chirac and Lionel Jospin.
On Wednesday night, even though Nicolas Sarkozy repeatedly said “You are right” while making a flattering exit, more than two people, it was two projects that were opposed. Two future projects based on different doctrines, and dare we say the word doctrine. It came to light during discussions on the subject of work, the 35-hour workweek, and pensions. With this division, it was impossible for either side to have convinced a part of the opposing electorate. On this point, Ségolène Royal lost. Of the two, she was the one who needed to win over voices from the other side more. Dressed in a black and white suit and her collar refusing to be completely Maoist, Ségolène Royal, with her hands flat on the table, reading her notes and taking notes, never ceased to watch her opponent. She was on the lookout for his possible mistakes, his potential irritations. Nicolas Sarkozy, soberly settled in a navy blue suit, had the particularity of addressing not only Ségolène Royal but also Patrick Poivre d’Arvor. He kept his hands joined on the table. With these two perfect experts in televised image, there is no doubt that both attitudes were intentional and calculated.
In terms of speaking, here too, we saw two different styles. Nicolas Sarkozy was calmer and more composed. He generally let Ségolène Royal speak to counter her by asking for more details. Ségolène Royal was offensive and biting, and provoked Sarkozy into justifying his record. By allowing for caricature, one might say we saw a social worker debating a CEO. Each camp is bolstered after the debate. Pro-Sarkozy supporters remain pro-Sarkozy, and pro-Royal supporters remain pro-Royal.
The highlight of the debate, which will be remembered, is when Ségolène Royal violently retorted, index finger raised, about Nicolas Sarkozy’s project regarding the schooling of disabled children. A “healthy anger” responded to the height of political immorality. “No, I will not calm down… there are angers that are perfectly healthy.” A strategically healthy anger. The UMP candidate’s strategy was displayed through a barrage of questions. He targeted a breach, a crack in Ségolène Royal’s campaign: her partner and first secretary of the Socialist Party, François Hollande, also humorously pointed out by Arnaud Montebourg, the PS spokesperson.
Nicolas Sarkozy: About François Hollande’s idea of creating an additional CSG…
Ségolène Royal: You can have a debate with François Hollande whenever you wish.
Nicolas Sarkozy: Does that not commit you?
Ségolène Royal: No.
Nicolas Sarkozy: Fine, he will be happy to learn that, at least I facilitated that.
A real debate or just a shallow one? Opinions are divided. The competitors gave nothing away. The demand for details, being meticulous about the topics, was more of a debate between heads of government than between potential presidents. It’s true that you can’t expect candidates to know everything about everything. Ségolène Royal took refuge in her methodology of consultation and discussion with social partners. Nicolas Sarkozy, for his part, wanted to be precise, thereby taking the risk of not being able to fulfill his promises while committing to do everything he announced and to be accountable to the French people. Courageous. He exposed himself on nuclear issues. He was wrong about the EPR, a project he had defended before the assembly. He assured that EPR belonged to the 4th generation of nuclear reactors. Wrong answer. It was the third. To the question: “Do you know what the nuclear share is in France’s electricity consumption?” He asserted that it was 50%. She asserted that it was 17%. Bad answers and a lack of rigor. The Ministry of Finance provides statistics: 17% of the total energy consumption in France is of nuclear origin, 88% of the gross primary electricity consumption is nuclear, and 78.1% is the share of total net production in France in 2006. On these errors, both camps and their supporters defend themselves to correct the record.
Nice-Premium will not award a prize for the best debater. Two attitudes stood opposed, both on substance and form. Each of the 20 million viewers will decide according to their personal conviction, their desire, and their vision for France, which of the two has best met their expectations.
