NDP leadership hopefuls will square off Thursday in a French-language showdown for the race’s first official debate — but nearly half the contest will be in English because none of the candidates are fully bilingual.

Unlike the French-language leaders’ debate during the next federal election campaign — in which contenders Heather McPherson, Avi Lewis, Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston and Tony McQuail hope to one day compete — just 60 per cent of their pitches to Quebecers and Francophones on Thursday will be en français , the party says.

Some candidates will also be using earpieces for simultaneous translation, which the party said they had requested. The devices will allow them to hear English translations of questions asked in French before they have to answer.

Among the three perceiv

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