LA CANDIDATE

THE DEBATE

The candidates, stood a meter apart, surrounded by a flurry of activity. Technicians hurried to make the final adjustments while other assistants meticulously arranged the microphones on the candidates.

Instead of the typical back-and-forth verbal sparring, the candidates were about to embark on a new, uncharted debate format.

Cara couldn't watch; she was too stressed. The woman kept going to the toilets.

What was wrong with her bladder?

She went back and forth while Keri watched the assistant finish on Severine.

Severine, in her tailored classic twill sport coat and skirt suit, radiated a newfound confidence. Keri, observing her, couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.

Who would have thought that the girl with the Bantu knots who knocked on his door every morning to go to school would be a potential president?

If the studio buzzed, the streets, on the other hand, were silent.

All were at home in front of their screens, TVs, laptops, and mobile devices, tuned into the second-round debate.

Two women, two ideologies, and multiple futures, the candidates divided the nation.

Abroad, too, people sat to analyze the final between the candidates.

There was nothing anyone could do to help Severine. She was on her own.

"Welcome, ladies and viewers. I'm Claudine Dumas, your host for tonight's debate. The principle of this debate is simple. You'll have to answer the questions our panel asks. Every panelist will decline their identity and ask their question. You have a minute to answer. Please stay within this limit, for there are many subjects to tackle. Our first panelist is Thibault."

"Bonsoir, I'm Thibault, a part-time worker. My question goes out to Mrs Barbeau. Will there be a gesture for households concerning inflation? Can we expect a minimum monthly wage of 2000 euros net?"

"I've decided to lower the VAT. It's the only indicator directly impacting households when purchasing, so this alone should help. Regarding wages, I will increase the minimum by 1.02 percent."

"Same question for Mrs Lafarge," Claudine said.

"There has to be a median. We can only increase the minimum wage to 2k if we consider the consequences for companies. We must open the dialogue with the main actors. The higher the wage, the more reluctant a company is to hire. We can look at other solutions, such as freezing prices for essential products."

"Bonsoir, I'm Robert, 55, unemployed. I'd like to know what you'll do for seniors who lose their jobs but don't have a sufficient retirement allowance. My question is for Madame Lafarge."

"We must rethink our hiring criterion. There's an age gap in employment. There are more retirement departures than people entering the employment market. The future employees are still in school. Raising the age of retirement won't alleviate this issue. Many seniors wish to continue to work and are physically and mentally capable of doing so. We should look at the Asian model. Seniors remain employed to mentor new starters. They take employment that allows them to amass extra income. We should allow those who wish to work to pursue and those who have contributed to the effort for 41 years to stop if they desire."

"Mrs Barbeau?"

"Retirement should be fixed at 65 for everyone. We can't do it case by case. Otherwise, we will still be in this mess in fifty years."

"It should be a choice," Severine added.

Angelique turned to face her, "We have a deficit, Mrs Lafarge, but I guess it's not as much of a priority for you as going to the cinema."