RECAP | French leaders’ debate draws out spirited exchanges on pipelines, immigration — and Trump
Anticipation Turns Into Subdued Affair in Tonight’s Leadership Debate
After weeks of anticipation for tonight’s contest, it turned out to be a relatively subdued affair. There were some notable moments and a few good zingers, but ultimately not a lot of fireworks.
There were no personal attacks, despite obvious tension between some of the leaders, and the crosstalk never descended into shouting matches — always a risk with a format that allows for open debate.
There were fairly substantial discussions on a number of key issues, such as pipelines and how to deal with Trump. Whether any of that will move the needle for the party leaders in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada remains to be seen.
The question people always ask after debates is: who won? Party devotees will have their answers, but tonight’s debate might be best described as a draw. None of the leaders made any obviously disastrous missteps, but neither did we see a clear victor emerge.
Now the country’s collective eye turns to tomorrow, when the leaders meet again for an English-language debate.
With the campaign nearing its final week, the stakes are sky high — so we may get some of those fireworks after all.
After weeks of anticipation, the highly awaited leadership debate tonight did not quite live up to the hype. While there were some memorable moments and a few sharp exchanges, the overall tone was relatively calm and devoid of any major controversies.
Despite the evident tension between some of the leaders, the debate remained civil, with no personal attacks or heated arguments. This was a refreshing change from the typical chaos that can ensue in open debate formats.
Several important topics were discussed at length, including the contentious issue of pipelines and how to navigate the complexities of dealing with the Trump administration. It remains to be seen whether these discussions will have any significant impact on the party leaders’ standings in Quebec and across Canada.
As is customary after debates, the burning question on everyone’s mind is: who came out on top? While party supporters may have their own opinions, tonight’s debate could be considered a draw. None of the leaders committed any major blunders, but there was also no clear standout performer.
Looking ahead, all eyes are now on tomorrow’s English-language debate, where the stakes are even higher as the campaign enters its final week. With tensions running high, we may just witness the fireworks that were missing from tonight’s event.
