One week to go - Hollande and Sarkozy Trade Insults as Runoff Nears

With accusations of fascism and lying, incompetence and imbecility, the French presidential campaign has been one of the nastiest in memory. One legislator from the governing party even compared the partner of the Socialist challenger to a Rottweiler.

With only a week to go before incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy faces off against the favored candidate, the Socialist François Hollande, the insults are flying. Mr. Sarkozy is trying to make up the gap and win back the votes of the far-right National Front of Marine Le Pen, while Mr. Hollande is trying to stay above the fray with professions of national unity, letting his adjutants open fire on his behalf.

Mr. Sarkozy’s concentration on patriotism, protectionism, French values and his attacks on immigration and immigrants who do not assimilate into French life have prompted considerable contempt, returned in kind.

On Friday, the far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who is supporting Mr. Hollande for the final round of voting, said on France-Inter radio that Mr. Sarkozy used language “directly taken from the collaboration” of Vichy France with Nazi Germany. He was referring to Mr. Sarkozy’s speech the day before in the suburb of Le Raincy, in which he spoke of his admiration of the police and said, “To be treated as a Fascist by a Communist is a compliment.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/28/world/europe/hollande-and-sarkozy-trade-insults-as-runoff-nears.html

A poll a few days ago showed Sarkozy losing by 9 points. He must be getting desperate. His only hope seems to be to reach an agreement with the National Front and get an overwhelming share of the far-right vote. He has resisted this in the past, but he really, really wants a second term, perhaps no matter what the price.