Exciting French political controversy!

Last Wednesday on the way into DEFLE I heard on the radio an intervew with a journalist from l'Express. A massive "affaire d'Etat" was about to break.

This would be big!

Heads would roll!

I was so excited! What a time to be in France!

Well, this is all it was. Apparently some years ago person or persons unknown tried to stitch up Sarko(Nicolas Sarkozy) by saying that he was taking bribes connected with the sale of French arms overseas. It was a tissue of lies, he wasn't involved, and at the time he criticised Vilo (Dominique de Villepin) for not clearing him loudly and emphatically enough. (Remember that Vilo and Sarko are rivals to be presidential candidate for the ruling UMP)

Well, it is alleged that Vilo actually briefed a French intelligence officer to try and dig up some dirt on Sarko to discredit him.

However, nobody's very excited here really. And in fact some suggest that the best thing Sarko could have is for Vilo to limp on from one slip to the next ready for the election. Meanwhile Sego (Ségolène Royale - left wing front runner) hopes that both will continue to squabble their way through to next year so she can get in instead.

I'm glad I don't have to vote here yet. At least with British politicians you know where you are....

Here's the BBC report on it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4959268.stm

And a Times blog report. http://timescorrespondents.typepad.com/charles_bremner/2006/04/chiracs_murky_s.html

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