Bayrou accuses Sarkozy of using influence to ensure French election TV debate is cancelled

FRENCH centrist Francois Bayrou, whose voters hold the key to next month’s presidential election, accused front-runner Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday of subverting free speech by stifling a televised debate with a rival.

Bayrou said Sarkozy had used his media and business contacts to pull the plug on today’s debate on Canal+ television between Bayrou and Segolene Royal, Sarkozy’s Socialist challenger in a May 6 run-off vote.

Sarkozy called the accusations insulting and his campaign director said Bayrou was using “Stalinist tactics.” “It’s slander, a slanderous insinuation,” said Claude Gueant.