French presidential elections: Security at the center of the debate

Following the recent attack in Toulouse, security has been thrust into the spotlight of the current French presidential campaign. The French public expects candidates to make commitments in this area, but they are remaining level-headed.

Si les politiciens accordent à la question tout le sérieux qu’elle mérite, ils n’ont pas profité des tragiques circonstances pour « gonfler » leur capital politique. Selon un analyste d’IFOP, « …les questions économiques et sociales, qui dominaient la campagne avant que Mohamed Merah n’ouvre le feu sur une école juive lundi, devraient rapidement revenir au premier plan ».

According to the latest poll published by the firm BVA, Nicolas Sarkozy gained two percentage points and François Hollande maintains an eight-point lead in the second round; there too, the presidential candidate saw a two-point increase. BVA's managing director, Gaël Sliman, stated that, under the circumstances, the French have managed to keep a cool head.