The seven candidates hoping to win the Republican Party’s nomination line up before the televised debate PHILIPPE WOJAZER/EPAThe two centre-right politicians vying to become France’s next president sought to defend themselves against claims that they were crooks last night. Nicolas Sarkozy, the former head of state, and Alain Juppé, the former prime minister, were at pains to present themselves as honourable citizens in a debate among contenders standing in the primary election for the opposition Republican Party. The winner of the primary, to be held next month, will become the party’s presidential election candidate next year, and will be well placed to succeed François Hollande, 62, as head of state. As a result, the stakes were particularly…

Source: The Times October 14, 2016 00:00 UTC