The popular favourite, Segolene Royal, has been accused of being a lightweight, with few policy ideas.

With the two-hour debate focussing on weighty economic and social issues, the question was whether she would sink or swim in the company of her supposedly more intellectual rivals, former Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn and former Prime Minister Laurent Fabius.

Most French papers agreed that she emerged with her chances intact.

Entering into the arena of Socialist capitalist debate, was White Segolene going to be devoured by the lions of the party? This is what her opponents had proclaimed ... The theme for the night was perfect to make the demonstration: economic and social issues. Two former finance ministers against a simple ex-junior minister for the family - the imbalance was patent. Logically they should have eaten her alive. In practice, she did better than resist: it was a draw.

Studious, serious, a little on the long side - and not televisual to save its life. The first of the three televised debates for the socialist presidential candidacy lived up to expectations yesterday... Contrary to the others, Royal broke with the usual humdrum arguments. And, as she did throughout the debate, she hammered home her points with concrete examples.

Headline - 'Advantage Strauss-Kahn'

It was a long time before things got interesting: differences only appeared at the end, on the 35 hour work week and the minimum wage. In this sober decor and with this highly controlled exercise, the differences were mostly those between personalities. Segolene Royal was clear, concrete, confident. Dominique Strauss-Kahn spoke more quickly - the teacher in his element, being rigorous. Laurent Fabius was slower, furrowed his brow and always finished on the left of any point made. All three of them attacked the state and those leading it - without quoting them - and without any risk of being contradicted. That was the limit of this exercise.

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