francois hollande to three debates. he is the most unpopular french president to run for reelection and he has just two weeks to turn it around. bbc news, paris. >> one of the key issues will be the battle that we just heard. nicolas sarkozy saying that he is the man of experience. he has five years under his belt. francois hollande has never been a minister. there is another factor in france, which is this really strong antithesis of toward nicolas sarkozy. much more directed to him personally than in some ways to his policies. i guess you are a well known blogger and political columnist in france. how do you see the next two weeks? >> it will be tough. the gap is shorter than expected. nicolas sarkozy has failed [inaudible] is not far from francois hollande. it has no reserve of voters. hollande can count on the far right, the environment, at least. nicolas sarkozy has to depend on the far right -- marine le pen's voters, and the center. these are very different. >> held the you appeal both to the center and the far r

now, obviously francois hollande is expected to become the french president's. he has a more than 10-point lead, i think. germany is concerned, particularly about european policy. the to expect -- they do expect him to push for economic stimulus, but they also expected to consolidate the fiscal situation. >> was the feeling in berlin about the turnout for the far- right national front? "unsettling," that was the word from the chancellor. 1 number of government said he was relieved there were two strong candidates with strong positions on the selection. there are concerns that nicolas sarkozy over the last couple weeks will reach out to le pen to appeal to the far right by stepping up far-right rhetoric. >> terry, thank you so much. not only is france facing a major shift. the netherlands is looking at early elections. mark rutte tendered his resignation to queen beatrix today. >> the leader of the anti- immigration party said the impact of deficit spending cuts ordered by brussels was too great. new elections will be held, possibly in june. >> it was shortly aft

and france is currently the nicolas sarkozy narrowly loses to socialist rival francois hollande in the presidential election first round which will see the pair now go then head to head in a runoff in just under a fortnight the winner will face a tough job of fixing a faltering economy and record unemployment. so as the french debate and dissect the first round of sunday's presidential election we talk now to a member of the socialist party but he gives his views on the second stage runoff and talks about the huge challenges his country is facing right now. so they were joined by a good want a member of the french socialist party since ninety seven he's also been a member of the european parliament from two thousand and four to two thousand and nine and today he's the spokes person of the socialist party that of french presidential candidate francois hollande thank you very much mr for joining us today first question will be of course on the future of france. socialist francois hollande and in common. kind of france are we going to see with the presidency. probably affronts that's much

it is the death of all this tradition in france. >> even so, socialist party leader francois hollandestill set to beat sarkozy in any runoff. he promised to keep the french model will first-aid alive, even if that means renegotiating the european austerity deal that sarkozy signed up to in december. francois hollande's supporters insist that would not bring disaster. >> if elected, which is far from certain, i am sure the first thing he will do will be to ask a report on the real situation of french finance and act accordingly. and i will advise him to do so, because the only way not to bear the burden of the cuts will be to do it immediately, just under the election to the i am sure he will do it. i am sure that nicolas sarkozy will do it also. >> further to the left is a man who seeks to protect the french social model with the same determination with which she corraled the press that his policy launch. jean-luc melenchon represents the left front, and against the americans, nato, the markets, and the eu. >> of course it is a complicated, and i will not hide from you that when it wa

and france's current leader nicolas sarkozy did not really loses to his socialist rival francois hollande in the presidential election first round which will see the pair go head to head in a runoff in just under a fortnight now the winner will face a tough job of fixing a faltering economy and record unemployment. i'm staying in france next as the french debate and i said the first round of sunday's presidential election we talked to a member of the socialist party. gives his views on the second stage one often talks about the huge challenges this country is facing right now. today we're joined by a good law he's been a member of the french socialist party since one nine hundred eighty seven he's also been a member of the european parliament from two thousand and four to two thousand and nine and today he's the spokesperson of the socialist party that of french presidential candidate francois hollande thank you very much and so much for joining us today first question with of course on the future of france there are two top candidates now socialist francois hollande and income that nicol

a blow from the cause sarkozy an easy out to socialist candidate francois hollande in the first round of the french presidential election certain face off in the second stage in a fortnight so you can see becomes the first french leader to fail to win the first round more than fifty years. his new concern for u.s. soldiers over growth dependence on antidepressants during service an eight fold increase in a problem since two thousand and five and two thousand and nine affected. and syrian rebels refused to dance to a foreign troop system military intervention is the way to solve the deadly conflict the un is deploying a three hundred unarmed observers to syria last ditch attempt to put oversee a cease fire. but as the french debate on the sector the first round of sunday's presidential election we talked to a member of the socialist party and one hundred one gives his views on the second stage runoff and talks about the huge challenges the country's facing. today we're joined by a good one he's been a member of the french socialist party since one nine hundred eighty seven he's also be

uphill fight in a run-off to retain his job. >> in paris and across europe, all eyes were on francois hollande, now a major step closer to becoming the first socialist president of france since 1995. hollande landed 28% of the vote in sunday's first round election that saw a turnout of more than 80%. he finished ahead of conservative nicolas sarkozy, the incumbent president garnered 27%. the two will meet in a may 6th runoff election. >> i'm going to do exactly as i did in the first round. i'm going to gather all the french people without want change. >> this campaign must be about the truth this is a crucial moment. the french people need to have all the facts so they can choose. and i won't be running away from it or hiding from it. >> reporter: but sarkozy faced deep disconsent-- discontent over frances debt and high unemployment. hollande calls for less austerity and more focus on economic growth. the voter unhappiness fueled the far right voter she won nearly 18% vowing to quit the your owe currency system and curb muslim immigration. >> when i heard this morning that certain people were

that's something that francois hollande cannot boast. back to you. >> some of the rain has started to falling. more from france throughout the day. other news now -- the man accused of committing the worst attacks in norway's modern history has begun giving a fifth day of evidence at his trial in oslo. anders behring breivik has already admitted carrying out the attacks that left 7 people dead last july. the norwegian court is to decide whether breivik was sane at the time of the attacks. we're live outside the court in oslo. our reporter has given a -- he has given a partial apology of sorts, hasn't he? >> this is the first time we've heard an apology from breivik. he apologized to victims and injured in the bomb blast, which he started his twin attacks with here in option low on the 22nd of july last year. but not to those he defines as his own enemies, but what he called innocent bystanders. but he has not apologized, and indeed, he has said he was not sorry for any of those he killed or any of those he injured who he deemed to be leg

nicolas sarkozy losing out the socialist candidate francois hollande in the first round of the french presidential election set to face off for the second stage of the full night's sleep becomes the first french leave it to win the first round more than fifty years. and you can see for us soldiers over a growing dependence on antidepressants during service the eight fold increase in the philippines since two thousand five hundred thousand which of course not affected. and syrian rebels refused to dance to foreign chuen says to retreat eventually is no way to resolve the deadly conflict when three hundred unarmed observers to syria are asked to attempt to see a ceasefire. schools the union and petersburg shall be holding a russian for bragging rights for the season you reckon it certainly doesn't tell you what is probably even more sweeter for them when their biggest rivals lose or draw that i mean how to do anything on sunday kerry we're going to have a look at all the results in russian for paul in just a sec. your company this is sports and a plenty ahead over the next ten minutes o

it was a victorious night for francois hollande. he has promised a break with austerity, and investments in welfare. different than what is espoused by germany. the biggest winner was marine le pen. 6 million voted for the far right, no to the euro and imigration. she has a much younger base of support. >> hollande in front, le pen the troublemaker. there were suggestions there would be protest votes, and this unnerves political leaders. how she effects the voting is hotly debated. >> mr. sarkozy is just behind in the polls and has made hs is first play for the far- right votes. >> it must be respected. a vote of crisis. why insult them. >> the president challenged hollande to three debates. he will get one. hollande has no need for unnecessary risks. christian frazier, bbc news. >> for more, i spoke to chris morris just a short time ago. >> if sarkozy loses, he'd be the second french president to lose a bid for reelection. what has he done to cause displeasure with his people? >> he has broken many of his promises. one of his sloga

the favorite to win is francois hollande. he says growth will be his priority. the markets today partly reflected concern that the political tide in europe might be turning against austerity. >> gavin has more on those concerns across europe. >> it was a very bad day on the markets. they are worried about political uncertainty here. they're worried about the fact that the dutch government collapsed today. they could not agree on the budget cuts demanded by the eu. they are worried about the latest economic data, which suggests the economic situation here in europe is worsening. they are also worried by the fact that today, spain officially was declared in recession. all of this raises the question as to whether the current strategy, focusing on austerity and bringing down the deficit, whether that strategy is working. that is on nerving -- unnerving the market. >> the european union is to impose more economic sanctions against the syrian regime. the move comes as violence continues, despite the small presence of observers. up to 50 people were killed, most of th

finishing behind francois hollande. and joining us with more, matt, what difference will it make if france elects a socialist as president? >> i think the markets will tumble on the promised to tax the rich to the hilt and all kinds of-- >> 75% marginal rate. >> to be fair, sarkozy has been saying the same and he's sort of lost his way and i'm he not sure, i think that hollande may dabble and get a bit from the minister of finance and saying you can't do this. and in a way, you know, france needs a change and sarkozy has been a disappointment in many ways. >> you mean a change psychologically? >> a change to the leadership and i'm not sure that hollande is the french tony blair much less margaret thatcher and i'm not so sure-- not as worried as some people that france will go off the cliff here. >> what's the implications for the larger euro crisis that they see if hollande gets elected. >> france is the fifth largest economy in the world and second largest in europe. it was, ll about a year ago, when people started dis

similar message from francois hollande as well.e has been in an area that traditionally tends to vote right, so trying to steal some votes at the last minute. maybe one in three french voters will stay away from the polls. >> just how much of an impact has the eurozone crisis had on this election? >> very much so in the case of president sarkozy. of course, when he came to power in 2007, he was really playing to the working class, a 53% of whom voted for him. work more to earn more was his slogan in 2007. has not played out that way. if you look at the statistics in the country, unemployment is at a record high and still rising. energy is twice as expensive as next door in germany. this vote is as much a referendum on his character and style as it is on his record. a lot of people i have spoken to up and down the country in the last year or so have said he cannot be -- it cannot be any worse under a socialist candidate. the fear he has been trying to play on, warning that the socialist presidency might lead to run on the market, ha

begins in a few hours time was opinion polls saying he could be toppled by his socialist rival francois hollande a defeat for sarkozy has been a close ally to washington will massively change france's foreign policy so as michel chossudovsky from the research center on globalization in montreal. succors cd is coal sa cool. he is the american that he is supportive especially of american interests rather than the interests of oppression public very much they keep us policy it puts us foreign policy i suspect that if if some foresee go was let's say egypt else walk alone becomes president of the republic we may see. a mild shift in in the. french foreign policy but i should also mention the other. aspects of this question which is the role of wall street probably european economic landscape cozy was to all an instrument of washington and perhaps your presidents a socialist president will give us a little bit more of its republican you know traditions of the pendants voice of the world scale as well as within the european union. and the asia currency crisis talks. tragic integration tell us. who wil

dominating theme today that's all because of the victory of course of the socialist cancer that francois hollande and that's the first round and investors are firmly on the edge of their states now rather national journal caps also said mr hollande is less likely to support your starting measures of game favor as a solution to europe's debt problems. we've seen a lot of political change as a result of the european crisis and if he was to become president probably the biggest change seen so far so far the germans in particular the french germs in particular have been pushing austerity on the part of the world is facing already some very difficult economic years i think if. becomes president it will be more of a shift towards. a more spending as a way to get out of the european crisis. ok well run the software let's go to the first scene is x. now as you can see sharp losses today look at the dots that over two and a half percentage points down now if we talk about the french course as well the cac is down nearly three percent today investors the not happy are there this instability and i don't lik

nine and today he's the spokes person of the socialist party of french presidential candidate francois hollande thank you very much on this for joining us today first question will be of course on the future of france there are two top candidates socialist laws and incumbent. what kind of friends are we going to see on the presidency. probably affronts that's a much fairer a much more egalitarian it is today the french one here today is significantly poorer than it was five years ago she's probably lost her influence in the world with for example the failure of the union for the mediterranean she's lost much of her influence in europe and the best example of this is how angela merkel and nicolas sarkozy have agreed on a draft european treaty which is very favorable to german interest and very unfavorable to the interests of the rest of europe. france is mostly very divided with heritage today the task for france where i learned will be to somehow repair rebuild and assemble the french to avoid opposition to one another this is why his political project is intended primarily to address inequalit

with official results now showing equal outside to see just one percent behind his main rival francois hollande was leading by a little over twenty eight percent. round one of the french presidential races gone pretty much as expected but the big surprise is actually the voter turnout which is much higher than was predicted join me for more of a few moments. the view on results to expand its monitor mission in syria but despite a unanimous vote in the security council some members are accused of undermining the peace average and. also bar raising hopes the controversial formula one grand prix while sending in police to britain equal down and demonstrators angry of the regime. of thirty minutes that bridge global attention in chile and a song from yet he's only to be shown on t.v. this week sparking a range of reaction from praise to hysteria. this is our season weekly my name is you lash about our top story now in front of presidential election frontrunners unequal crazy and his main rival socialist francois hollande looks to have reached the second round of voting wish take place in two weeks

ten candidates are competing in this weekend's last round with opinion polls showing socialist francois hollande pulling slightly ahead of incumbent conservative president nicolas sarkozy different one of the hopefuls wins more than fifty percent a second vote will take place a week later in a runoff between the talk to you all she's tests are seeing it has more on the country that's for. one day to go before the french hit the polls but one in four voters still haven't made up their minds yet part of the french people's concerns are jobs and money in their pockets especially at a time when unemployment is around ten percent hitting an all time high that's about million people unemployed so who could take the top job and sold the french people's problems to believe a small socialist party. you can believe with all twenty nine percent of potential voters is almost at once a target the top earners of the country but he is criticized for this widely perceived the lack of experience so truly beyond france warlordism convert you can also of course see he's a deeply unpopular president and one recent

immigration losing the first round of the french presidential election to socialist candidate francois hollande the national front so far right that are now up for grabs during the may the sixth row. over twenty people are still being treated in hospitals in the ukrainian city of the put up by the softer a series of bombs exploded there on friday injuring thirty suspected terrorist times also stoked fear abroad as the country prepares to host the euro twenty twelve football. not guilty british of the lie detector experts say the main suspect a russian m.p. was not involved in the murder of former security officer alexander litvinenko in london six years ago the polonium murder case called hughes tension between the kremlin and. now israel is ratcheting up its war rhetoric against iran despite certain proof that iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon and former u.s. army. both israel and america could go when it comes to dealing with iran. we're sitting down with douglas macgregor every tired army colonel who fought in the gulf war and was referred to by some officials as the best fighter the

that's what we've got right now and this is all because the victory of the souces pounds at francois hollande in the first round of it's really causing the concern as i state and roland are stronger than a capital says this is all because mr hollande is less likely to support your stary see measures that again as a solution to europe's debt issues. a lot of political change as a result of the european crisis if he was to become president probably the biggest change seen so far so far the germans in particular the french germs in particular have been pushing austerity on the part of the world is facing already some very difficult economic years i think if. president it will be more of a shift towards less and more spending as a way to get out of the european crisis. and if we look at those numbers right now as you can see you've got the down one point seven percent we've got the dax what two point eight percent in negative territory some verses really are showing their concerns the numbers speak for themselves this guy was the euro dollar and see how the common currency is getting on right now

week later to choose between the top two expected to include socialist leader and frontrunner francois hollande after his tests are seen there are reports economic gloom and all time high unemployment are dominating voters' concerns. one day to go before the french at the polls but one in four voters still haven't made up their bikes yet part of the french people's concerns are jobs while at the park it's especially at a time when unemployment is around ten percent it is an all time high that's about three million people unemployed so who could take the top job and solve the past people's problems well according to the latest poll social is probably a part of a lot is due to believe that about twenty five percent are potential voters and that one of the. target the top earners of the country but he is criticized for this widely perceived lack of experience truly is incumbent because he's a deeply unpopular president and one recent poll you would declare him the most unpopular president in history and his presidency has been marred with one economic crisis after another the last weeks of campaig

nicolas sarkozy losing out the socialist candidate francois hollande in the first round of the french presidential election such a face off in a second stage nothing like. the last point challenger secures more than twenty eight percent of the vote so with nicolas sarkozy becoming the first incumbent leader to fail to take the lead in the first round of the presidential race in over fifty years join me for more in a few moments. popping happy pills to forget the horrors of war new concern for u.s. soldiers over dependence on sedatives and antidepressants. and syrian rebels refuse to dance to a foreign tube system military intervention is no way to resolve the deadly conflict. on air and online twenty four hours a day you're watching r.t. . because sarkozy and the socialist challenger francois hollande will go head to head in the second round of the french presidential election in two weeks time their final results from the first round show a long one twenty eight point six percent of the vote in sarkozy's twenty seven percent is a first time french president seeking reelection has fai

the vote of the far right after losing the first round of the french presidential ballot to francois hollande with immigration and the euro among the main rally. more than twenty people are still being treated in hospitals in the ukrainian city of. after a series of bombs exploded there on friday leaving thirty injured. not guilty british lie detector experts say the u.k.'s main suspect a russian he was not involved in the murder of former security officer alexander litvinenko in london six years ago. for the stories that made headlines this week you're watching the weekly with me roll research. as the violence in syria continues unabated neighboring lebanon has seized a shipment of smuggled weapons destined for syrian rebels the cash apparently came from libya which is backing the opponents of president assad this all comes as the rebels step up their assault on government forces saturday saw the first insurgent attack from the sea a day after a suicide bombing killed at least nine people in the capital russia says the opposition is seeking to scuttle the u.n. brokered cease fire as the worl

the race for the top job in france continues with official results saying francois hollande has won the first round with twenty eight percent just one point ahead always main rival nicole africa's eat. around one of the french presidential races gone pretty much as expected but the big surprise is actually the voter turnout which is much higher than was predicted join me for more of a few moments. be you on results to expand its monitor mission in syria but despite a unanimous vote in the security council some members are accused of on demining the peace at that. also bahrain has a controversial formula one grand prix while standing in police to brutally quiet down on demonstrators angry at the regime. and says a minute that gripped global attention children are spanish premier the zone interview on our t.v. suite is sparking a range or reaction from braves to hysteria. this is all teas weekly review hello and welcome to the program in france presidential election frontrunners nicolas sarkozy and his main rival socialist francois hollande looks to have reached the second round of voting

support after losing the first round of the french presidential vote to socialist candidate francois hollande less than a week of campaigning left until the final battle. police in ukraine released photo fit images of the man they believe are responsible for multiple bombings in the patrol friday that left thirty injured officers a reopen it investigation into a similar bombing in this city last year believing the attacks could be like. lie detector experts from the u.k. say the country's police have the wrong suspect in the killing of former at bisbee agent alexander litvinenko in london the six years ago. six am in moscow i matter as a good to have you with us here on our t.v.'s we bring you today's top stories in a look back at the week's news as violence in syria continues unabated neighboring lebanon seized a shipment of smuggled weapons believed destined for syrian rebels the cash apparently came from libya which is backing opponents of the assad regime this comes as syrian state television claimed rebels have stepped up the offensive with attacks on the syrian central bank and police p

results not sure unequal outrank was the just one and a half the stand behind his main rival francois hollande is leading by a little over twenty eight percent. round one of the french presidential races gone pretty much as expected with a big surprise actually the voter turnout which is much higher than was predicted jointly for more a few moments. ago so the you underdogs to expand its own into mission in syria but despite a unanimous vote in the security council some numbers are accused of undermining the peace separate. bahrain hosts a controversial formula one grand prix while sending in police to brutally crime down on down traitors angry at the regime. and says minute the grip of global attention julian assange premiered his own interview show on r.t. this week sparking reaction that range from praise to the scary. this is weekly hello and welcome to the chateau in france presidential election frontrunners nicolas sarkozy and his main rival so she is from so our land looks to have reached this second round of voting which takes place in two weeks time with almost all the ballots counted

official results now showing nikolaus like crazy just one and a half percent behind his main rival francois hollande whose deleting by a little over twenty eight percent. around one of the french presidential races gone pretty much as expected with a big surprise actually the border turnout which is much higher than was predicted join me for more in a few moments. the un resolved to expand its knowledge mission in syria but despite a unanimous vote in the security council some members are accused of undermining that piece of that. settlement as the group of global attention julian assange which premieres his only interview show on r.t. this week sparking reaction that range from praise to mysteria. and bahrain hosts a controversial formula one grand prix while standing in place to brutally ground down on demonstrators angry at the regime. there watering artie's weekly review hello and welcome to the program in france a presidential election frontrunner as an equal outside his main rival socialist francois hollande looks to have reached the second round of voting which takes place in two weeks time w

he is lying during this campaign, francois hal hollande every time.emember moody, everybody was saying it was moody to change the credit for france. >> rose: credit rating for france. >> in fact it's not true. it's not true. you say in america it is a flip flop, flip flop. >> rose: all right. i don't want, first of all i want to thank you. i tell you one very good thing that most americans believe is that nicholai sarkozy has chosen a brilliant member of your diplomatic corps to serve in washwashington, francois has sed france with a extraordinary skill both here in new york and in canada and now in washington. >> exactly. >> rose: so a wise choice i think from the standpoint of americans have explained france to america. i thank you for coming. a pleasure to have you. >> thank you. it was really nice for me to be here because you know you are so famous in france and it's my first american tv show. >> rose: thank you. >> it was so great for me to be here with you. >> rose: thank you so much. captioning sponsored by rose communications captioned by med