In Final Hours of Campaign, Sarkozy, Allies Cried Out Against Socialist Media Bias

May 7th, 2012 8:42 AM

The Daily Telegraph in London reported that in France on Friday night, the camp of Nicholas Sarkozy attacked "biased" media for an "alliance" with Socialist candidate Francois Hollande. An ally said it was "a veritable denial of democracy." There's not just a socialist media bias problem in America, obviously. 

There was even violence reported. Two star "presenters" of France's most-watched rolling TV news channel, BFM TV, were attacked by Sarkozy supporters to taunts of "collaborators" at his final rally in Toulon on Thursday. Ruth Elkrief and co-host Thierry Arnaud were hit by water bottles, one striking Arnaud in the face. They had to curtail their live programming and complained to France's broadcast watchdog. Mr Arnaud said he was "molested in practically every meeting."

Henry Samuel of the Telegraph relayed:

Mr Sarkozy apologised for the incident, but added: "I would like everyone to also understand the attitude of people who are exasperated by a form of intolerance or bias (in French media)."

The head of his UMP party, Jean-François Copé, went further, saying : "We have witnessed a veritable denial of democracy (in the media coverage of this campaign) ... It's not normal that (reports) are so negative each time they speak of Nicolas Sarkozy."

The President has repeatedly claimed that "intermediary bodies", including the media, are preventing him from connecting to "the people".

Attacking the media is a classic tactic of populist politicians and has been exploited in this year's presidential campaign by far-Right leader Marine Le Pen and far-Left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Mr Sarkozy's FN seduction drive has sparked what his camp says is totally unacceptable media reactions, notably a front cover of Marianne magazine depicting him as Vichy leader Marshal Philippe Pétain.

"Why not Hitler?," he asked during a TV debate with Mr Hollande on Wednesday night.