French centrist candidate Francois Bayrou today accused presidential frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy of subverting free speech by stifling a televised debate with a rival.
Mr Bayrou, whose voters hold the key to next month's election, said Mr Sarkozy had used his media and business contacts to pull the plug on Saturday's scheduled debate on Canal+ television between him and Socialist challenger Ségolène Royal.
Mr Sarkozy's campaign director, Claude Gueant, said the accusations were a baseless slander and denounced what he said were "Stalinist tactics" by Mr Bayrou.
The centrist's strong third place in Sunday's first round means his almost seven million voters could decide whether Ms Royal or Mr Sarkozy win a May 6th run-off. Mr Bayrou has refused to endorse either Ms Royal or Mr Sarkozy but made clear his antipathy to the latter.
Canal+ dropped plans to broadcast the debate on Thursday, citing election rules on equal airtime for candidates.
But Mr Bayrou, asked on RTL radio if Mr Sarkozy was responsible, said: "I don't have the proof but I am certain of it.
"I say with certainty that we have before our eyes today the proof of this propensity or choice of Nicolas Sarkozy to control the news and debate, and this is harmful for France," he said.
Socialist sources later said Saturday's debate would now be carried by the independent BFMTV channel and its sister radio station RMC radio.