Economics
France’s Valls, Hamon Clash Over Basic Income in Primary Debate
- Benoit Hamon is favorite in Sunday’s Socialist primary run-off
- Debate also showed different views on deficits, place of Islam
Benoit Hamon and Manuel Valls prior to a televised debate on Jan. 25.
Photographer: Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The two remaining candidates in the French Socialist Party’s primary expressed dramatically different views of the country’s economic future as they clashed in their only debate ahead of Sunday’s vote.
Benoit Hamon defended his proposals for a shorter work week and a basic income of 750 euros ($800) a month for all citizens, saying technical change threatens to make work rare. Manuel Valls said lower payroll taxes and job training in new technologies would enable the country to keep creating jobs and cut France’s 10 percent unemployment rate.