Nicolas Sarkozy has gripped France's presidential election by the scruff of the neck. His rival Ségolène Royal has wobbled ineffectually, sometimes mouthing vacuities, sometimes dabbling in old school dirigisme. Mr Sarkozy has charted an altogether firmer course, building a respectable lead for himself ahead of the April poll.

What a pity, therefore, that the election is not fair - or, at least, not universally accepted as such.