French debate zingers over the years

It’s all about the zingers.

Getting in a well-placed jab during a televised debate can make or break a presidential campaign. And keeping cool is sometimes half the battle, as Richard Nixon learned to his chagrin in the famous debate against John F. Kennedy in 1960.

As millions of French voters get ready to watch tonight’s face-off between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen — in their only head-to-head meeting before Sunday’s presidential election runoff — here’s how these debates have changed the tone and perhaps outcome of previous races in France, and become iconic moments themselves. In every case, the winner of the debate went to win the election.

Giscard vs Mitterrand (1974)

The candidate of the center-right, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, faced off against François Mitterrand of the Socialist Party.

Zinger that counted: “You don’t have a monopoly on the heart, Mr. Mitterrand,” Giscard said. “You don’t have it.”

Winner: Giscard was considered the stronger candidate. He showed more determination and combativeness than his opponent and went on to win at the ballot box too.

Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (L) and François Mitterrand, before a radio and televised campaign debate at the RTF in Paris on May 10, 1974 | AFP via Getty Images

Giscard vs Mitterrand (1981)

Giscard faced Mitterrand for a rematch seven years later. The result was different.

Zinger: Asked by Giscard about the exchange rate of the Deutsche Mark, Mitterrand responded: “I don’t like your methods. I am not your pupil. You are not the president of the republic here. You are simply my opponent.”

Winner: Mitterrand.

A file photo showing François Mitterrand (R) facing Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, on May 5, 1981 during the televised debate with journalists Michele Cotta (L) and Jean Boissonnat look on | AFP/Getty Images

Mitterrand vs Chirac (1988)

Mitterrand faced Jacques Chirac, his prime minister and the candidate from the conservative camp, in a debate watched by around 30 million viewers.

Zinger: Chirac: “Tonight I am not the prime minister and you are not the president of the republic. We are two equal candidates [and] you will thus permit me to call you Mr. Mitterrand.”

Mitterrand: “You are entirely right, Mr. Prime Minister.”

Winner: Mitterand.

François Mitterrand (R) and Prime Minister Jacques Chirac (G), both candidates for the 1988 presidential election, before their televised campaign debate on April 28, 1988 in Paris | Georges Bendrihem/AFP via Getty Images

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Chirac vs Jospin (1995)

Chirac and Lionel Jospin, the Socialist candidate, spent much of the debate arguing about Mitterrand’s track record even though he wasn’t standing. Jospin proposed holding a referendum which would reduce the presidential term from seven years to five.

Zinger: Jospin: “I tell you, Mr. Chirac, better five years with Jospin than seven with Jacques Chirac.”

Chirac: “That would be quite a while, wouldn’t it.”

Winner: Chirac.

File picture showing candidates for the 1995 French presidential election Lionel Jospin (L) and Jacques Chirac (R) before a televised debate with journalists Alain Duhamel (2dL) and Guillaume Durand (2dR), on May 2, 1995 in Paris | AFP via Getty Images

Royal vs Sarkozy (2007)

Ségolène Royal, the Socialist candidate, faced off against Nicolas Sarkozy, the fiery former minister and conservative candidate.

Zinger: Sarkozy accused Royal of losing her temper. “To be president, you need to be calm,” he said.

Royal: “I didn’t lose my temper, I am angry and being angry can be very healthy, very useful.”

Winner: Sarkozy. Despite that zinger, Royal was outperformed in the debate and at the ballot box.

The two candidates for the French presidential election, socialist party (PS) Ségolène Royal (L) and Nicolas Sarkozy (R) wait with journalists Arlette Chabot (2R) and Patrick Poivre d’Arvor (2L) before the start of their two-hour televised debate, on May 2, 2007 | Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images

Sarkozy vs Hollande (2012)

Sarkozy was back five years later, this time facing Royal’s former partner, François Hollande.

Zinger: Hollande’s mocking of Sarkozy by using variations of the phrase “Me, the president of the republic” at the beginning of his sentences angered his opponent. “Me, the president, I won’t be the chief of the majority … Me, the president, I won’t call my prime minister ‘collaborator,'” Hollande said, referring to a 2007 speech in which Sarkozy told reporters that “a prime minister is a collaborator” and “the boss is me.”

Winner: Hollande.

France’s Socialist Party (PS) candidate for the 2012 French presidential election, François Hollande (L) and France’s incumbent president and Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy (R) pose with journalists David Pujadas (C-R) and Laurence Ferrari (C-L) prior to the start of their national TV debate between the two rounds of presidential election, on May 2, 2012 | Pool photo by Patrick Kovarik/AFP via Getty Images