"François Hollande has never been dominated by Nicolas Sarkozy“, was the response of Françoise Fressoz, editorialist for Le Monde, after two and a half hours (too many, far too many) of live television debate, yesterday evening, between the socialist candidate and the current President, a few days ballot next Sunday. The problem for Hollande could have been precisely that, that Sarkozy, the born communicator, should take over, have the initiative in his own hands. It wasn't like that.
For the hyper-president (as the French called him in the heyday), last night's debate represented the big chance to reverse its negative trend in the polls. Now, the last word has not been said: we will see how the French reacted in the first polls to this great television event, which characterizes every presidential election, from 1974 to today. And then, there are many undecided, especially in the ranks of those who voted for Marine Le Pen in the first round, who still don't know who they will vote for next Sunday. But one thing is certain: there was no Sarkozy miracle.
Hollande has always known how to react to attacks. Surprisingly, he too turned out to be aggressive, but with his own style, without overdoing it. “I will be the President of Justice,” he said at the beginning. To then add: “Because we are going through a serious crisis, which affects the weakest. The privileged have already been overprotected." I want to be the President of the union, no more divisions”. Sarkozy immediately asked him to be more concrete (“more facts”) and recalled how “in my five years of presidency there has been no violence, no social clashes. There are those who speak of union and those who have generated it”.
Much of the debate (at times very technical) was devoted to the economy. “Unemployment has grown, competitiveness has degraded and Germany does better than us“Hollande stressed. Yes, the German model, one of the leitmotifs of this campaign. “Germany has pursued a policy which is the opposite of the one you are proposing to the French – Sarkozy retorted -: for example, it introduced the social VAT“. This is what the current French president also wants, if he is re-elected: the possibility of increasing the value added tax and consecrating the increase to finance part of the social security contributions due to companies. Aiming to reduce labor cost. Sarkozy has also returned to complaining about the 35-hour work week, wanted by the left in the late XNUMXs. “But you've been in government for 10 years – Hollande told him, recalling that the right has been managing France since before 2007, the year of his election -, why didn't you remove the 35 hours?".
At European level, Hollande recalled that he wants to renegotiate the fiscal compact, the pact on a balanced budget, wanted by Merkozy, also adding measures intended to generate growth. “Even Mario Monti – he specified – realizes that the treaty as it stands is not enough”. On the fiscal compact he reproached Sarkozy for having given in to Merkel. “You dare say I got nothing from Germany? – Sarkozy retorted piquedly -. It was I who robbed the Germans of the possibility that the ECB could lend to banks at 1%”. Sarko also "warmed up" when his rival brought up Berlusconi: "Look how Italy has been reduced by years of government of a friend of yours, Silvio Berlusconi“. The right-wing candidate was keen to point out “that he is not my friend and that by now it seems he is in favor of the candidate Hollande".
