Voorwaarden tv-debat Sarkozy en Hollande (en)

BRUSSELS - French voters are set for some highly charged political viewing as Nicolas Sarkozy i and Francois Hollande have their one and only TV debate during what has become an increasingly dirty campaign for the presidency.

The duo will have their TV face-off on Wednesday (2 May) with every aspect of the two-hour debate planned to the finest detail, including the temperature of the room. There is, according to a report in Le Figaro newspaper, even a special charter to govern how the programme will be conducted.

Hollande, the socialist challenger, is leading in the polls. Sarkozy, the incumbent and runner-up in the first round, has been trying to dislodge his lead by winning over the almost 20 percent who voted for the far-right in the first round of the elections on 22 April. The latest polls give Hollande 53 percent and Sarkozy 47 percent.

Analysts suggest that Hollande is benefitting from not having to woo the far-left by radicalising his message and potentially alienating his centre-left supporters.

Sarkozy, on the other hand, risks putting off middle ground supporters with his increasingly strong message on national identity and the need to control immigration.

But Sarkozy, a trained lawyer, is generally agreed to be a better debater than the self-styled 'Mr Normal' who has resolutely stuck to the same message of raising taxes for the super rich and promoting economic growth.

The highly anticipated TV duel comes as insults have started to fly between the two camps ahead of Sunday's (6 May) defining second round.

On Monday, Le Figaro's front page featured pictures of both Hollande and the disgraced Socialist and former IMF i chief Dominique Strauss Kahn i.

The paper, close to Sarkozy, was given the opportunity to feature Strauss-Kahn - who faced sex charges in New York last year and lately has become embroiled in scandal involving an alleged prostitution ring in France - after he turned up at a birthday party for Socialist MP Julien Dray - a party that two of Hollande's top aides also attended.

Hollande immediately disassociated himself from DSK noting that one-time star of the left "no longer has a role in political life."

Last week, Sarkozy said Hollande is supported by “700 mosques” while centre-right MP Lionnel Luca called Hollande's partner Valérie Trierweiler a Rottweiler.

Hollande has for the most part tried to remain above the fray. Left-wing legislators have been keen to take up the insult baton for him however with one referring to Sarkozy as a "spoilt brat."

But Sarkozy had his own newspaper difficulties on Monday too. Investigative website Mediapart published a document allegedly showing that Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi had agreed to finance Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign to the tune of €50 million.

Sarkozy denounced the document as a forgery and said he will sue Mediapart. The socialists have called for an investigation into the report.

The fighting is set to continue on Tuesday. Sarkozy will address at rally at Trocadero, Paris, while leading socialists are due to join the annual Labour Day march in the French capital.