French Presidential Elections: Defiant Sarkozy blasts ‘lying’ opinion polls - by Peter Allen

Nicolas Sarkozy today insisted “the opinion polls are lying” as a vicious live TV debate failed to reignite his bid to be re-elected President of France.

The 57-year-old conservative went head-to-head with François Hollande, his socialist rival, during the three-hour broadcast yesterday evening.

Both men exchanged insults, with Mr Sarkozy accusing Mr Hollande of “lies and slander” about everything from his plans to tax the rich to his policies on Europe. But Mr Sarkozy failed to land a knock-out blow and — with three days before the country votes — Mr Hollande was still far ahead in the opinion polls.

Styling himself during the debate “the president of justice” and “the president of unity”, Mr Hollande, 57,  accused Sarkozy of being an abject failure during his five years in power.

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