Sarkozy, Royal go on offensive in French TV debate

By Crispian Balmer

PARIS (Reuters) - Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal forced her rightist rival Nicolas Sarkozy onto the defensive during a fiery TV debate on Wednesday, attacking his record in office and accusing him of political immorality.

At times unsettled, Sarkozy managed to hit back, questioning whether she could handle the pressures of the presidency, and analysts said neither contender appeared to have landed a knockout blow just four days before their run-off election.

Royal set the tone from the outset of the 160-minute duel, charging that the outgoing conservative government in which Sarkozy served as both interior and finance minister, had failed to tackle unemployment, cut debt or reduce street crime.

"You are in part responsible for the situation in which France finds itself today," Royal said during the marathon debate which touched on everything from the economy to security, from nuclear energy to education, from pensions to immigration.

Her unexpectedly feisty performance cheered supporters and she told reporters later that she hoped she had disproved critics who said she was not competent enough to do the job.

"I believe that I have showed this evening that I have solidity and inner strength," she said.

But Sarkozy's fans were relieved that their champion, often portrayed by his critics as overly aggressive, had stayed calm and had turned the tables by branding Royal as too hot headed.

"At least (this has) served one purpose, which is to show that you get angry very quickly, you go off the rails very easily, Madame. A president is someone who has very serious responsibilities," Sarkozy said.

The first and only debate in the election race was shown live on two main television channels and was expected to be watched by nearly half of France's 44.5 million voters.

Analysts said they thought it would primarily have confirmed most voters in their original choice.

"I don't think either managed to convince the other camp. Both spoke to their own electorate," said Anita Hausser, political commentator for LCI TV.

LAST CHANCE

Sarkozy topped the first round election on April 22 with 31.2 percent of the ballot with Royal second on 25.9 percent.

An opinion poll published late on Wednesday put support for Sarkozy at 53.5 percent and Royal on 46.5 percent, with 86 percent of voters saying they would not change their minds ahead of the May 6 run off.

Seated directly opposite one another, a deliberately measured Sarkozy rarely looked Royal in the eyes, glancing instead to the pair of presiding journalists as though seeking their approval.