All eyes on French presidential candidates as they go head-to-head in mega TV debate

[brooklynite]

Source: France24

All 11 candidates in France's presidential election, from frontrunners Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron to also-rans, take part in a giant TV debate on Tuesday seeking to swing undecided voters.

With just 19 days until the first round of voting in a rollercoaster contest, the debate could play a crucial role in swinging momentum, with support for 39-year-old Macron still seen as fragile.

Polls show far-right candidate Le Pen and centrist independent Macron locked together at around 26 percent heading into the first round on April 23.

Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20170404-france-french-presidential-election-candidates-tv-debate-macron-le-pen-fillon-hamon

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Just your basic 3 1/2 hour debate...

[dalton99a]

1. There will not be a dick measuring contest

[BlueMTexpat]

2. Here's one blow-by-blow

account from The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/apr/04/french-election-2017-france-all-presidential-candidates-take-part-in-live-tv-debate

Here's a good "cheat sheet" on the candidates, also from The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/04/french-presidential-election-how-the-candidates-compare

Voters cast their ballots in the first round of the French presidential election on 23 April, with candidates ranging from far right to hard left vying to reach a second round run-off and, from there, the Elysée Palace.

The policies of the top five contenders – François Fillon, Marine Le Pen, Benoît Hamon, Emmanuel Macron and Jean-Luc Mélenchon - on state spending, immigration, the environment and the economy reveal their different positions.

There is some good news for Macron in this report: http://www.digitallook.com/news/international-economic/macron-impresses-in-french-election-debate-but-final-result-unpredictable--2608700.html

After a televised debate between all French presidential candidates, Emmanuel Macron remained at the top of poll ratings and ultra-right challenger Marine Le Pen was felt to have performed badly.

Several surveys found the National Front leader did not perform particularly well and after losing her cool several times was rated only the fourth most convincing candidate, with 11% of the share of viewers in an Elabe poll.

Centre-right frontrunner Macron was judged one of the most convincing in the debate, with 21% of viewers, and felt to be the candidate with the best programme by 23% of viewers.