Thursday, May 3, 2007

The Faceoff

Last night was the debate between Ségolène Royal and Nicolas Sarkozy. I'll post some thoughts on the outcome of the debate a little later (short version: probably not too decisive), but for now I thought it would be interesting to describe how the debate was organized, to give an idea of the difference in how politics is practiced here and in the States.

The two candidates were seated across a table from each other, in a television studio with two journalists seated between them. The cameras and camera operators were screened off to avoid any "red light" distractions. There was no time limit to the candidate's answers, simply a clock visible onscreen tabulating each candidate's total speaking time. If at any time one candidate's total time exceeded the other's by more than three or four minutes, the moderators steered the floor to the other until he or she had equalized. It continued for two and a half hours, that is, half an hour longer than expected.

The result was a debate in which the candidates were forced to string together real thoughts, which could in turn be freely challenged by the other. Like debates in the States, the actual usefulness was not so much in convincing anyone on the particulars of either program as in demonstrating the personalities of the two candidates. The difference being that the format here was more likely to give rise to unscripted responses and spontaneous exchanges between the two candidates.

All of which is to say that while style matters, there is no way someone unable to form a coherent sentence, much less develop a sophisticated argument (ie. George W. Bush), could ever be taken seriously as a candidate.

Posted by Judah in:  La Presidentielle   

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