French conservative presidential hopefuls debate economic, security challenges

In a debate which lacked flare, seven conservative hopefuls for the 2017 presidential ticket tried Thursday to reach out to disillusioned voters by presenting their toolkits to fix economic problems and handle security and immigration.

Alain Juppe, the front-runner who is campaigning for "happy identity," pledged concrete and efficacious responses to restore state power, to tackle mass unemployment and modernize education system.

"You understand tonight that I'm ready, determined ... want to lead you to the path of hope of a powerful France which creates jobs," said the 71-year-old former prime minister and former foreign minister.

His hardline rival, former President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed to be the "president of the silent majority." [ At the beginning of the debate, Jean-Francois Cope, former chief of the conservative Union for a Popular Movement, said he has decided to take the torch of "breaking off", following people's cry of anger that the country is no longer controlled or guided.

"Ten years ago, in 2007, I believed in Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to break with the past, but it never happened," he said.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Francois Fillon has promised to be "the president of courage, action and honesty."

The sole female contender, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, who managed the ecology portfolio during Sarkozy's presidency, portrayed herself as a candidate of the open party of progress with which she wanted to build a new France based on innovation and new initiatives.

Former Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire proposed "a revival" as "from one five-year term to another, France still falls behind."

Jean-Frederic Poisson, head of the Christian Democratic Party, wanted to highlight the Judeo-Christian roots.

After presenting themselves in one minute, the candidates detailed what they proposed to fix the country's economic problems. Without making any significant reform, they agreed with each other to lower taxes, reduce public spending and debts in order to boost growth and create jobs.

As the debate turned to security and immigration, the candidates stressed the need to tackle radicalization and limit immigration. However, they expressed differences over whether to remove or tighten rules for family reunification and over the option to block up all those who are under the surveillance of intelligence services.

An Elabe online poll released immediately after the debate through the news channel BFMTV showed that 35 percent of viewers were convinced by Juppe's performance while his rival Sarkozy persuaded 21 percent of them.

Two more televised debates, scheduled for Nov. 3 and 17, will precede the first round of the primary on Nov. 20. The two top contenders will then debate one-on-one before the Nov. 27 second round run-off.

According to the country's pollsters, the presidential favorite would be a conservative and would easily unseat the incumbent Socialist President Francois Hollande and beat far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

The Nov. 20 primary is the first ever to be held by France's main right-wing party. Endi