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The presidential election of spring 2002 has revealed a deep rift between the political world and public opinion. The media is partly responsible for this situation harmful to the functioning of a democracy. The four main reasons are: the complicity which develops between politicians and journalists; excessive deference with regard to institutions; the increasing skill with which politicians handle the various techniques of communication; the lack of interest shown by citizens in political debate, which incites newspapers to devote less space to political life than is merited.