Hollande has the numbers as Sarkozy presidential showdown appoaches.
Down to the wire in France.
France's presidential election race enters its final week with Socialist candidate Francois Hollande increasingly confident of victory on May 6th
President Nicolas Sarkozy is under pressure trailing in the polls and trying to hold on to his job.
Throughout the campaign, Sarkozy has hammered home the message that thanks to him, France has emerged less damaged than other countries from the worst financial crisis in decades. But all the evidence points to the fact that his point has fallen on deaf ears.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRISTOPHER BICKERTON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AT SCIENCES PO, SAYING:
"Objectively Hollande feels that there's an anti-Sarkozy move in French society that could carry him all the way to the Elysee Palace and I think it's a reasonable assessment."
On a European front, while big players like Germany may be wary of a Hollande victory, the candidate himself feels that leaders across Europe are awaiting his election to back away from German-inspired austerity.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRISTOPHER BICKERTON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AT SCIENCES PO, SAYING:
"Austerity politics is generating larger rather than smaller debt levels and people are realizing that growth is the key. And so there's been a bit of luck I think for the Socialists in that respect."
There could be a last-minute comeback by Sarkozy. But pollsters say that it would be unprecedented for someone to come back from so far so late in the race.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
France's presidential election race enters its final week with Socialist candidate Francois Hollande increasingly confident of victory on May 6th
President Nicolas Sarkozy is under pressure trailing in the polls and trying to hold on to his job.
Throughout the campaign, Sarkozy has hammered home the message that thanks to him, France has emerged less damaged than other countries from the worst financial crisis in decades. But all the evidence points to the fact that his point has fallen on deaf ears.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRISTOPHER BICKERTON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AT SCIENCES PO, SAYING:
"Objectively Hollande feels that there's an anti-Sarkozy move in French society that could carry him all the way to the Elysee Palace and I think it's a reasonable assessment."
On a European front, while big players like Germany may be wary of a Hollande victory, the candidate himself feels that leaders across Europe are awaiting his election to back away from German-inspired austerity.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRISTOPHER BICKERTON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AT SCIENCES PO, SAYING:
"Austerity politics is generating larger rather than smaller debt levels and people are realizing that growth is the key. And so there's been a bit of luck I think for the Socialists in that respect."
There could be a last-minute comeback by Sarkozy. But pollsters say that it would be unprecedented for someone to come back from so far so late in the race.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
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