Sports Calendar

()

His most urgent task is to soften the harsh image that he has gained as a law-enforcer and supporter of deregulation. He has toned down his manifesto as Ms Royal made headway with her offer of a compassionate path to reform that would maintain the protection of France’s generous welfare state.

Under a new slogan “tomorrow, everything is possible”, Mr Sarkozy will promise to rejuvenate France, emphasising individual liberty and responsibility while maintaining the paternal state. The Socialists, with their head start in the campaign, are calling him “an American neoconservative with a French passport”.

The nightmare of the Sarkozy team is the possibility that the charismatic Ms Royal manages to maintain her charmed run without ever being pinned down. “That would be like a World Cup final ending with a penalty shoot-out,” said a Sarkozy aide.

Sarko and Ségo: spot the differences

Nicolas Sarkozy

Campaign profile Casts himself as outsider but is long-serving MP and senior Cabinet minister. Promising to reform France gently

Family origins Unhappy childhood. Neglected emotionally by estranged father, a Hungarian immigrant playboy

Early career Trained as lawyer. Gaullist activist and elected Neuilly mayor in his 20s

Family Divorced from first wife. Two children. One child with Cecilia, his second wife, who returned to family home last year after ten-month fling with advertising executive

Mentor Jacques Chirac. They have been feuding since 1995

Advantages Dynamic, tough, virile, articulate on policy and ideas

Disadvantages Hot-tempered, too tough, small stature, pro-American, foreign name

Ségolène Royal

Campaign profile Casts herself as outsider but is a long-serving provincial MP, former junior minister. Promising to reform France gently

Family origins Unhappy childhood. Neglected emotionally by disciplinarian father, an army officer

Early career Trained as senior civil servant. Adviser to President Mitterrand in her 20s

Family Partner of François Hollande, leader of Socialist Party, since late 1970s. The unmarried couple have four children but no longer live together full-time

Mentor President Mitterrand. He died in 1996

Advantages Dynamic, feminine, great looks, reassuring, anti-American

Disadvantages Hot-tempered, evasive and vague on policy, suspected of being either stealth Marxist or stealth capitalist

Times Recommends

• Lies and cover-up at MG Rover exposed by report
• High oil prices push manufacturing costs up
• Primark founder steps down as chief executive