PARIS, May 2 (UPI) -- French presidential hopefuls Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal went head to head in a debate Wednesday night as they head down the campaign home stretch.
The BBC said the debate had been tabbed as a key confrontation between the two final candidates for the French presidency and both sides did not disappoint. The candidates engaged in a heated debate that surpassed the scheduled two-hour format in their attempt to woe those voters who had cast ballots for other candidates who were eliminated in the first round.
An estimated 20 million viewers tuned into France's top two TV networks to watch the debate in preparation for this Sunday's second round of elections.
Royal criticized her opponent on his previous efforts against security and crime during the debate. Sarkozy attacked Royal's Socialist Party and its implementation of the 35-hour work week.
"She (Royal) still thinks that you have to share out the work like pieces of a cake," Sarkozy said. "Not a single country in the world accepts this logic, which is a monumental mistake."
