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'Don't speak to me like that!' — TV debate promises sparks for France's presidential race
International Herald Tribune ^ | May 1, 2007 | Marco Chown Oved

Posted on 05/01/2007 4:28:17 AM PDT by Cincinna

She smiled, then blew her top. "Don't speak to me like that!" thundered Segolene Royal, silencing Nicolas Sarkozy.

That was 14 years ago — the last time they debated face-to-face.

The two, now locked in battle for the presidency of France, have long been as incompatible as oil and water, his pugnacious, browbeating verbosity a trigger for Royal's temper and her steely refusal to be talked down to in the male-dominated world of French politics.

Their clashing styles, temperaments, politics and proposals for reviving France should guarantee sparks when they meet on Wednesday in their first and last televised debate of a presidential campaign that seems to be heading to a Sarkozy victory on Sunday — unless the Socialist can turn things around quickly and dramatically.

With its expected huge audience, the prime-time evening faceoff offers Royal her best and possibly final chance to bring her conservative rival down a peg or two. It promises high drama for a campaign that has been filled with twists and surprises, energizing voters eager to steer France out of its doldrums.

When they debated in a TV studio in 1993 they were both political youngsters. The resulting "don't speak to me like that!" outburst from Royal can now be watched on the Internet. She compared him to a "steamroller" and said, "All the television viewers can see that what you are saying is completely off-base!"

(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: france; frenchelection; royal; sarkozy
This is ging to get really hot!

You can watch an extract of their previous debate on the Web Extract of 1993 Royal-Sarkozy encounter

http://6.upload.dailymotion.com/video/x1soq1_royal-vs-sarkozy-legislatives-1993

1 posted on 05/01/2007 4:28:24 AM PDT by Cincinna
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To: Cincinna; nctexan; MassachusettsGOP; paudio; ronnie raygun; Minette; WOSG; fieldmarshaldj; ...

FRENCH ELECTION UPDATE:

THE DEBATE BETWEEN SARKO AND ROYAL IS TOMORROW, JUST ONE DAY AWAY!

FReepMail me if you want to be on the FRENCH ELECTION PING LIST.


2 posted on 05/01/2007 4:31:20 AM PDT by Cincinna (HILLARY & HER HINO "We are going to take things away from you for the Common Good")
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To: Cincinna

Did you see this?

Far-right leader calls on supporters to abstain from vote

PARIS, May 1, 2007 (AFP) - French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen called on his supporters Tuesday to abstain en masse from voting in Sunday’s presidential election.

Le Pen said neither socialist candidate Segolene Royal nor rightwinger Nicolas Sarkozy deserved the support of the 10.44 percent of voters who backed him in the first round of voting.

“I call on voters who have shown their confidence in me to cast their vote neither for Madame Royal nor for Mr Sarkozy and to abstain en masse,” said Le Pen, who came fourth in round one.

http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=25&story_id=39283


3 posted on 05/01/2007 4:37:37 AM PDT by Eurotwit (WI - CSC)
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To: Eurotwit
Taking his ball and going home, eh?

France is done for anyway.

It is fast becoming the Islamic Republic of Gaul.

Cheese eating surrender monkeys.

4 posted on 05/01/2007 4:48:27 AM PDT by Yankee
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To: Cincinna

Priceless! He’s got it all over her on policy, but (and I hate to say this) she’s a Babe. And I daresay, more “French” than he. I’d still vote Sarko for sure, but what will Les Francais do on Sunday? On verra.


5 posted on 05/01/2007 5:15:51 AM PDT by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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To: Eurotwit; Yankee; Cincinna
“French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen called on his supporters Tuesday to abstain en masse from voting in Sunday’s presidential election.”

- This just about illustrates what a bad looser and patriot-in-name-only politician Le Pen is.

As much as I’m critical of immigration of non Westerners to Europe, I think it’s futile to try and get elected on one single issue.

Not even Hitler was as restricted by such a limited, narrow minded ‘drinking straw’ vision as that of Le Pen.

6 posted on 05/01/2007 5:35:58 AM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: Cincinna

‘”Don’t speak to me like that!” thundered Segolene Royal’

Dear subjects, I present your Majesty, the Queen.


7 posted on 05/01/2007 7:07:51 AM PDT by Free Vulcan (Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none!)
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To: Free Vulcan

Doesn’t it remind you of the horror evidenced by her mjaesty, Hillary, when confronted by Lazio in that debate. When a woman gets whupped in debate, they pull the affronted woman routine.


8 posted on 05/01/2007 8:06:53 AM PDT by Jim Verdolini
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