street smart

Candidates summarise their position

• Fillon says France is in a serious situation in a dangerous world and in order to rediscover the “taste of happiness” a profound change is needed. He says he is the only candidate who can do it – bringing together the right and the centre. He tells voters if they don’t want the chaos of extremists or a continuation of François Hollande they should choose him. He ends with a bold demand: “I ask [the French] to trust me.”

François Fillon(@FrancoisFillon)
Je suis aujourd'hui le seul candidat qui propose l'alternance et qui peut la mettre en œuvre avec une vraie majorité. #LeGrandDébat
April 4, 2017

• Macron says he is asking voters to turn the page, not just on the last five years but on the last 20. He is calling for a new, efficient, can-do France where all sections of society are liberated. He says the most vulnerable will be protected, and others will be liberated by education and culture. “I have confidence in you,” he says. “I have confidence in our country.”

Emmanuel Macron(@EmmanuelMacron)
Je veux porter un projet d’émancipation, un projet qui vous redonnera la fierté d’être Français. #Macron2017 #LeGrandDébat pic.twitter.com/MP8s6YZgVq
April 4, 2017

• Le Pen calls on French who think they are part of a people and a culture in danger. She tells them they are the owners of the country, and they have rights. There is no reason to despair, she tells them. It is possible to come through this and regain our sovereignty. I want to put France in order, in your name, she says.

Marine Le Pen(@MLP_officiel)
"Français, usez de cette liberté pour me permettre de remettre la France en ordre, au votre nom : #AuNomDuPeuple !" #LeGrandDébat
April 4, 2017

• Mélenchon concludes by explaining that France must end the reign of the ultra-rich and emphasising that they must move towards environmentally friendly methods of production and consumption. He says that the republic is about a life of community and that this election is of course about changing the president, but first and foremost about rediscovering happiness.

• Hamon calls for voters to choose the future of collective intelligence and ecological transition that he proposes. He says that the people “embody the most beautiful face of the republic” and seeks to unite them regardless of religion, which has always been the project of the left.

• Poutou concludes by encouraging the social movement in Guyana, where he says their wealth is monopolised by the French state, and by reaching out to all those who are exploited globally, not just in France. He wants the French to regain their confidence in social movements and to make the rich pay.

• Arthaud concludes by addressing the workers and calling on them to remember the struggle of the collective. She refers to pensions in particular and her concern that the next president could cut pensions.

• Cheminade says France can only be happy if it overcomes the oppression of capitalism and insists a vote for him is a vote for the future.

• Dupont-Aignan concludes by citing Einstein: it is not those who have created the problems that can solve them. He says he believes in a humanistic patriotism and he can not stand to see it submissive and divided. He wants to gather the French together for the longevity of the Republic.

• Asselineau says to finish that he is the only candidate who would ensure an immediate “Frexit”. He tells voters not to be afraid and to have confidence that France will renew its great history as the British people have just done.

• And finally, the jolly giant Lassalle says he wants a France that invests in its youth – and says that as president he would invest in the learning of languages and military service.

Updated at 12.00am BST

11.21pm23:21

Candidates asked: What is your social model?

FRANCE 24 #Politique(@PolitiqueF24)
#LeGrandDebat - Place à la 3ème partie du débat : comment mettre en oeuvre votre modèle social ? ➡️ https://t.co/e3cnlQlge8
April 4, 2017

• Le Pen says that public services come in for a lot of criticism. She says public service must not be for profit. She wants to improve public services – so they benefit the French, bien sur.

• Fillon agrees with Cheminade that France is headed for a financial crisis. He therefore wants to rebalance public finances and says this would require exceptional measures, namely eliminating 8% of jobs in the public sector at the rate of 1.5% per year.

• Macron says it is time to stop lying to the French people. Public services are “the foundation of our equality”, but they need reform, otherwise it is future generations who will have to pay. To save as much as €60bn, he suggests that local and regional authorities should not replace retiring civil servants. He also wants to abolish the housing tax for 80% of French people.

• Mélenchon calls for recruitment of more civil servants in the health and education sectors respectively.

• Poutou wants to declare a “state of social emergency” as a result of unemployment, bad pensions and difficulties in accessing housing. He takes another swipe at Fillon, who he says is preoccupied with debt “except when he draws in the cash for his family”. He wants to cancel France’s debt and to tax the ultra-rich.

• Lassalle agrees with Arthaud and denounces those with large fortunes. His big plan is to put an end to petrol and says there are plenty of jobs to be had in solar power.

The French Report(@thefrenchreport)
"I propose to defend our public services by modernising it"#macron2017 #LeGrandDebat
April 4, 2017

• Asselineau argues that the EU is responsible for the dismantling of public services. He proposes the renationalisation of French public services. He wants social security to be included in the Constitution and to introduce “pay-as-you-go” retirement.

• Dupont-Aignan says there must be an end to the privatisation of public services, calling for motorways to be renationalised. But the answer is not more public servants.

• Hamon vigorously attacks Fillon on his proposal to reduce the number of civil servants. He says during the financial crisis, it was the civil servants who held the country together. He says that Fillon must respect those who will implement policies for the civil service, especially seeing as he wants to be head of state. Hamon touches again on the issue of burnout when referring to those civil servants working in hospitals, schools and police stations. He says France should recruit more civil servants.

Updated at 11.32pm BST

10.51pm22:51

A short pause to consider the importance of haircuts in this debate:

10.38pm22:38

Kim Willsher

In many ways, the range of candidates in this election, and the concerns and priorities they expressed during the debate, reflect the great fractures in French society. Arthaud and Poutou represent workers’ rights as one might expect from leaders of the Workers’ Struggle party and the New Anticapitalist party; the poor, the badly paid, those at the bottom of the social pile, the “dictatorship” of the rich and of capitalism.

At the other end of the scale, are former ministers Fillon and Macron, in their well-cut bespoke suits and ties who talk of finance, business, investment, efficiency, responsibility …

In the middle are leftwingers Mélenchon in his Mao jacket and Hamon, in off-the-peg suit and tie, who focus on workers but also ecological issues, democracy, working hours, social services …

There are traditionalists Dupont-Aignan, Asselineau, Cheminade, Lassalle: Eurosceptics, nationalists who have their pet subjects.

Then there’s Le Pen, who takes a bit from each – nationalist, protectionist, anti-Europe, anti-globalist, defence of workers (as long as they are French) – and adds her trademark dose of anti-Islam, anti-immigration, and economic and social patriotism.

Updated at 11.33pm BST

10.24pm22:24

Macron and Fillon trade blows on reform of the political system.

Macron says reform is crucial, that he will reduce the number of parliamentarians and the number of laws they make.

Fillon hits back, saying that even if there are corrections to make, they are not a priority. They would be a diversion from economic and social policies which – at this moment – are more important.

Updated at 10.31pm BST

10.15pm22:15

It’s now Macron’s past career at Rothschild bank thrust into the spotlight by Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, who asks him: “Should we not stop with these banks that dethrone our industry?”

Macron defends his previous banking job, explaining that he had a job and practiced a profession, “I had a job, I practiced a profession” and that he sees nothing wrong with that. In response to Dupont-Aignan’s interrogation, Macron recognises that although there is a need for transparency and accountability, there cannot be too much suspicion. He says that there will always be banks and that he would guarantee their total independence.

Meanwhile Hamon calls for an end to the “unbearable privileges” of politicians who can get away with things that ordinary French citizens cannot. He says there should be complete transparency when it comes to donations to electoral campaigns.

Arthaud also attacks Le Pen and Fillon, saying that workers have to take accountability while they do not. Workers are encouraged to stand up and take responsibility for their actions and therefore so should politicians.

Macron is all for the transparency in the public lives of politicians. He would prohibit family members being hired by politicians, an obvious dig at Fillon.

MacronInEnglish(@MacronInEnglish)
"I want more transparency, not general suspicion"#macron #legranddebat #macron2017 #TeamMacron #VoteMacron https://t.co/jR4zHM7sZ8
April 4, 2017

Updated at 10.25pm BST

10.05pm22:05

Kim Willsher(@kimwillsher1)
#LeGrandDebat Fillon responding about fraud investigation says defiantly: I'm still standing.
April 4, 2017

Under attack Fillon hits back. He says he has not been found guilty of any crime, despite admitting to “mistakes”. He says an exemplary president is one that tells the truth to France about itself and the world. He says he has been judged without a trial by journalists, but he is “not intimidated”. The French will make their own judgement, he says.

Updated at 10.13pm BST

9.54pm21:54

Indeed …

Kim Willsher(@kimwillsher1)
#LeGrandDebat Oh dear, on to the thorny subject of the "exemplarity" of the political class.
April 4, 2017

Phillipe Poutou, of the New Anticapitalist party, has used the moment to land a few blows. It’s worth noting that Poutou means “kiss” in French, and the politician is sometimes mocked for this. But as Kim puts it, “he’s the outsider’s outsider”.

On Fillon, he says the more you look, the more stories there are and accuses Fillon of telling the public they must tighten their belts while stealing from public funds. Oof.

Then he accuses Le Pen of stealing from the European public funds.

The background is that Le Pen refused to turn up to a summons to answer questions about European parliament funds being used to pay for FN party staff, including, it’s reported, her personal bodyguard.

Fillon is formally under investigation for paying his wife and two children hundreds of thousands of euros for jobs they allegedly did not do.

Hamon says it’s rich to see Le Pen presenting herself as a victim, when she victimises Muslims, immigrants etc.

Updated at 10.13pm BST

9.41pm21:41

How to protect the French?

We are now on the second theme of the debate: how to protect the French people.

• Macron says that to protect the French people some military intervention will be necessary, adding that we all face the threat of terrorism and that one cannot deny that “Islamist terrorism” exists. He argues that France’s military intervention in Syria is vital, but that there needs to be a change in how security is organised on French soil. He suggests a reconstruction of territorial intelligence, as well as stressing the importance of cyber-defence. Macron refers to the recent attacks in Westminster and St Petersburg before insisting that we target the source of the problem.

MacronInEnglish(@MacronInEnglish)
"I want to eradicate the terrorist threat at its source" #macron #LeGrandDebat #TeamMacron #macron2017 https://t.co/q0oM3maRcb
April 4, 2017

• Le Pen argues that terrorism cannot be prevented unless France’s borders are made secure. She accuses Fillon of cutting police and army numbers as prime minister (which he later denies, saying army numbers are the same today as in 2012). Le Pen says that France has become a “jihadi university”, causing an exasperated interruption from Hamon who says that she would say that as it suits her and helps her cause.

Kim Willsher(@kimwillsher1)
#LeGrandDebat Security/terrorism are Le Pen's subjects. Enable her to get worked up about migrants, Islamists, borders, etc.,
April 4, 2017

• Fillon says France must fight totalitarianism but it will be “a long fight” that requires the strongest and largest global alliance possible. He says he will stop jihadis coming back to France and deport those who pose a risk.

Antonio Barroso(@abarrous)
Le Pen going hard against Fillon on security issues. She knows he is the main contender on that front #LeGrandDebat
April 4, 2017

• Hamon says there is no miracle solution or “quick fix” to terrorism and that in Russia, where there is less public freedom, attacks are still not prevented. He says the French must fight terrorism united and suggests a small increase in spending on armed forces and security services.

• Melénchon says that France must leave its state of emergency and echoes Hamon’s argument that the country should remain united in the face of terrorism. He also insists France must “punish the accomplices” of the terrorists.

• Poutou wants to end the state of emergency and to disarm police, saying that police kill youths rather than fighting terrorism. In order to put an end to terrorism, he says, France should stop its military interventions “in the Middle East and Iraq” and to end the sale of weapons “in Qatar and Saudi Arabi, which finance terrorism”.

• Asselineau says he wants France to quit Nato and the EU. He also wants to put an end to “complacency” towards the Emirates, “which serve as a financial base for the Islamists”, in order to fight effectively against terrorism.

• Lassalle, who has previously met Bashar al-Assad in Syria, encourages talks with the Syrian president and an immediate withdrawal of French forces from the Middle East. He also says he will create a fourth army to fight cybercrime, because they are young people who “want to destroy our civilisation”.

• Cheminade argues there should be more emphasis on the fight against arms, drugs and oil traffic in order to neutralise Islamic State “once and for all”. France must treat terrorism “at its source”, intervening in Chad and Mali. He calls for a coordinated international policy, even if this means working closely with Trump and Putin.

Updated at 9.46pm BST

9.19pm21:19

Got to say I agree with Kim here:

Kim Willsher(@kimwillsher1)
#leGrandDebat Between Poutou determined to speak as fast as poss. and Lassalle with delightful Pyréneen accent...sometimes hard to follow.
April 4, 2017

9.08pm21:08

Kim Willsher

Europe debate has now ended. We had a lot of sound and fury, but no clear winner.

Fillon seems to be trying to appear statesmanlike, lots of sardonic smiles, but keeping out of arguments.

Hamon struggling, lacking the passion he shows at rallies. Mélenchon continues to combine being combative with humorous asides and interjections, and coming out of the debate well.

Macron earnest, but not really hitting the mark. Le Pen … is just being Le Pen and sticking to her line.

Updated at 9.15pm BST

9.07pm21:07

Mathilde Siraud(@Mathilde_Sd)
.@EmmanuelMacron hausse le ton et s'énerve contre @MLP_officiel,cite Mitterrand "le nationalisme c'est la guerre" #secondtour? #LeGrandDebat
April 4, 2017

Strong ending to this section, which was supposed to be about how to create jobs in France, but ended up focusing mainly on Europe.

Macron, with his eyes on the prize of a second round victory against Marine Le Pen, directs his final comments directly at the Front National leader. He cites Mitterrand’s “nationalism equals war” . He adds that France is not Switzerland, or North Korea. He puts the point to her, while she rolls her eyes.

Fillon, ever determined to bring the debate back to the economy, says that Le Pen has no economic plan. The only plan she has is to leave Europe, which will melt away when the French public vote to stay in any referendum she would hold.

Le Figaro(@Le_Figaro)
🔴 DIRECT - François Fillon: «Il n'y a pas de programme économique de Mme Le Pen» #LeGrandDebat ➡️ https://t.co/v6U6L0Be8J pic.twitter.com/t7pZRduJOh
April 4, 2017

Among the others: Cheminade accuses Le Pen and Macron of playing the financial markets, claiming that the Europe of today is destroying itself and that they must return to the Europe of their founding fathers. Cheminade says that a “financial tsunami” is coming.

In response to Cheminade’s desire to implement article 50 immediately, citing the daily suicides of farmers as a reason enough “to act”, Le Pen affirms that the difference between the two is that she wants a referendum and he doesn’t.

Jean Lassalle reiterates that France needs room to make changes, but without a “Frexit”. He takes aim at Macron, arguing that there is now “no government or European authority”.

Arguing that he has not spoken enough in this first part of the debate, Mélenchon says that “no one” in the previous two governments had opposed the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and claimed that it was now necessary to adopt “a reasonable attitude with an alternative proposal”. He says renegotiate European treaties and then ask the French if they agree.

Updated at 9.25pm BST

8.54pm20:54

This is interesting from Le Figaro:

Le Figaro(@Le_Figaro)
🔴 EN DIRECT - Top des mots-clés les plus utilisés sur Twitter (avec @visibrain) #LeGrandDebat ➡️ https://t.co/v6U6L0Be8J pic.twitter.com/yIZedv2R7P
April 4, 2017

In the last 30 minutes the most used words in relation to this debate are “give the money back”, while “I’m voting Fillon”, Macron, Pen and Mélenchon also feature.

Updated at 9.43pm BST

8.52pm20:52

Fanfan(@Fanfanlb)
"COMMENT CRÉER DES EMPLOIS ?"

- Alors l'Europe...
- Mais les emplois ?
- Euh, il faut une autre Europe...
- Et les emplois ?#LeGrandDébat
April 4, 2017

More on Europe, which keeps sneaking into the section of the debate about how to create employment:

One of the moderators has said there are a “majority of Eurosceptics” among the candidates. Among the top five, however, three are pro-Europe (with or without reforms) Macron, Fillon, Hamon; and two are Eurosceptic, Le Pen who wants out totally, and Mélenchon who wants to “renegotiate” the European treaties.

Asselineau mentions the B-word: Brexit. Says he is the only candidate for Frexit. Wants France to invoke article 50.

In contrast to the Eurosceptics, Hamon says he wants to continue with the challenge of building Europe. However, he opposes Germany’s austerity policy, proposing instead a democratisation of the countries in the eurozone. He believes Germany would work with France to improve democracy in Europe.

Fillon also argues that France needs Europe, when up against the US and China. He insists that a European currency that can compete with the supremacy of the dollar and the future of the Chinese currency must be worked on. He also says that the prohibition of free movement of workers is “absurd”, although he emphasises a need for the sovereignty of Europe, which in turn will ensure the sovereignty of France.

There has been an ill-tempered exchange between Dupont-Aignan and Fillon. Fillon says Dupont-Aignan isn’t going to get the power to do anything, but Dupont-Aignan says that’s up to the voters.

street smart

Tuesday 4 April 2017

Candidates summarise their position

Candidates asked: What is your social model?

How to protect the French?

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