Mix of satisfaction, frustration after French presidency TV debate

All 11 candidates for the French presidency went head-to-head in a televised debate on Tuesday night, the first in the country's election campaign, in a fresh attempt to improve their credentials before an election outcome that remains unpredictable.

For some, the four-hour debate, which included lesser-known candidates, was necessary to breathe new life into a campaign tainted by fraud investigations. For others, the televised marathon was a frustration and wouldn't change the situation.

Speaking to France Televisions, Alexis Corbiere, spokesman for far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, said the debate "was well played. It was good."

"The presence of small candidates had added salt to the debate," he added.

For his turn, Florian Philippot, vice-president of the far-right National Front party, said the discussion provided "a real debate."

"It is good to see that there is a debate in our country," he told news channel BFMTV.

Cecile Duflot, former housing minister and supporter of Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon thought "it was necessary that the debate took place," adding on Radio Classique that she was in favor of a second such debate.

In addition to the top five candidates, Tuesday's debate involved six contenders who polls predicted would garner between 0.5 percent and 4 percent of votes.

Some of them grabbed the spotlight when they lashed out at conservative candidate Francois Fillon and far-right Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front, over fraud scandals surrounding their campaigns.

Philippe Poutou, a factory worker, mocked the former prime minister, saying he was campaigning for austerity and tough public spending while he paid hefty salaries to his wife for job she may not have done.

"The more we dig, the more corruption there is," he said, referring to the probe into Fillon's wife's allegedly fictitious job.

Meanwhile, there were vitriolic exchanges between Poutou and Le Pen over accusations that Le Pen had paid her party staff with funds from the European Parliament.

"The National Front, which claims to be anti-establishment, is protected by the system itself and by parliamentary immunity. When we are summoned by the police, we go. We do not have extra immunity," Poutou said.

Echoing Poutou's comments, Nathalie Arthaud, another leftwinger, said: "supermarket cashiers can be fired just for stealing a voucher. There is a shocking discrepancy here."

Rejecting the allegations, Le Pen said she had been a victim of "political prosecution."

Held less than three weeks ahead of the first round of elections, the debate with all 11 candidates gave each contender only about 17 minutes of speaking time, prompting frustration for some.

"It gave the impression of never having correctly addressed the subject," Socialist nominee Benoit Hamon said.

Luc Chattel, Fillon's spokesperson, expressed "disappointment" following the debate's "disorder."

"To give the impression to the viewers that the political debate in France is between Marxists and Eurosceptics, it is a caricature...compared with the country's challenges," he said on France Info radio.

A third TV debate is scheduled for April 20, but it has not been determined if it will take place, as several candidates said it was planned too close to the election itself. Endit