Paris (AFP)

David Pujadas, who will lead Wednesday evening on LCI the debate between the seven main candidates for mayor of Paris, wants to make it a "moment of clarity" to help the many undecided voters to "find their way", he said in a interview with AFP.

"Many people have not yet made their choice, the campaign is gone a bit in all directions, and there it will be a moment of clarity so that everyone can find their way," promises the star journalist of LCI, who joined the TF1 group's news channel in 2017, after 16 years at 8:00 p.m. in France 2.

"I think that what makes the strength of this election is the unknown. Since the political forces have been somewhat atomized, we do not know if we will find the right and the left in a two-way fight , or if Agnes Buzyn has a chance to disturb the game, "he said.

Besides, "Anne Hidalgo was not a passive mayor. She did a lot of things that greatly pleased and that greatly displeased, and it is a very important issue to know if this policy will be approved or sanctioned ", he says.

"Paris remains in the center of attention and will color the results of these elections, which will be difficult to read at a national level, and the battle of the capital is all the more important for everyone", says it also be worth it.

- Encourage exchanges -

The evening broadcast from 8.45 p.m. will be organized in two stages: Anne Hidalgo (PS), Rachida Dati (LR), Agnès Buzyn (LREM), Cédric Villani (ex-LREM), David Belliard (EELV), Danielle Simonnet (LFI) and Serge Federbusch (RN) will first be questioned one by one, then they will debate together from 9:30 p.m.

"The idea of ​​the show is to avoid commenting on polls or political speculation and really focusing on what can be done, what should be done, what has been done too , and that everyone comes out with a clear idea of ​​each other's visions, "says David Pujadas, who also wants to" promote exchanges "between them.

This program "is also, in these times when politics is much criticized, a way of reaffirming that political debate is noble", it is "not chicayas", he defends.

The evening will take place in a "less formal" setting than the presidential debates, with "a decor that can almost resemble a living room". Applicants will be seated in armchairs, not standing behind desks. "The candidates are seated very close to each other, they can almost touch each other and probably speak to each other more easily," he rejoices.

This debate demonstrates, he believes, the "credibility" and "legitimacy" of LCI in the field of political information and major events.

"Having the first debate was important to us", and "it is an essential condition for a news channel, to be in the big leagues, to have such meetings", he explains.

"The two or three major debates about yellow vests organized by LCI have undoubtedly marked the spirits", especially that of November 2018, which had brought together for the first time figures of the movement and members of the government, argues David Pujadas , who had animated these great evenings.

These major debates have helped LCI, born 25 years ago but broadcast free only since 2016, and in the penultimate place on DTT (channel 26), to reduce the gap with its rival BFMTV, by reaching for first 1% audience share last year, against 0.7% in 2018, even if the Altice chain (which will organize the debate between the two rounds, on March 18) remains clearly the leader (2, 3% last year).

This Wednesday, in any case, "it is all of France who loves politics and public affairs, who will watch that evening" the outgoing mayor of Paris crossing paths with his rivals, predicts David Pujadas.

© 2020 AFP