Corruption in France

Bad smells

A complex party-financing scandal creeps closer to the president

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Readers' comments


Andrew Lee

The timing of this investigation couldn't come at a more inconvenient time. With the Euro plummeting and the entire economy of Europe struggling, a corruption scandal is the last thing you want to have to deal with as a Prime Minister or President. Sarkozy is now at the center of a scandal involving the prime ingredient of a scandal, money. On top of this, he suffered a huge blow to the socialist party as they gained the majority in the French Senate. The situation in France can be applied to all of Europe. The people are looking for a change! Even Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has lost approver rating even though Germany's economy is easily top 5 in the world. As far as the scandal is concerned, even if Sarkozy had nothing to do with it, his relations with the men that obviously did is very skeptical and could be enough for him to be out of power at the upcoming election. Politics are a dirty business.


It seems like Sarkozy's time in office is coming to and end. With the change in political power from conservative to liberalism added to the failing of the Eurozone, Sarkozy doesn't seem to be a very favorable man in the position of the head of their country. Unless he can find an unforeseeable political miracle, it seems very likely that a new man will come to assume his position.


This is the last thing Sarkozy needs right now. With all the issues going on anyways, they do not need any corruption or even the suspicion of corruption. Hopefully no more controversy comes up, but that is highly unlikely. I think that everything is all going to go downhill from here and Sarkozy is not going to last long with all these issues.


With this significant news in French politics to add to all the chaos, Sarkozy's not the only EU leader in trouble right now. With Merkel facing problems with voter support in Germany, and financial meltdowns in Greece and Italy, it seems that some major changes might be happening to the big EU country's political systems in the next few years. Sarkozy's center-right leniency may begin to shift left with the presence of the newly elected Senate, and this new Senate may start voting against some of Sarkozy's ideas, which could be good or bad considering the current EU situation.


What you guys are completely missing out on, and I suspect this is because you're not French, is the question of Sarkozy's alternative. Currently it is Martine Aubry, and she is far far away from being an appetising choice. Clearly, DSK would have trounced Sarkozy. But Aubry is a lousy public speaker, and her program has little to show. Sarkozy is still a great public speaker, and has been known to pull himself out of complicated situations in surprising ways. If the alternative is Aubry, he will be president again in 2012.
What I personally wish for, is for a challenge coming from the center or the right. Unfortunately, Borloo has announced he wouldn't run in 2012.
Unless the very unexpected happen, Sarkozy will be president again.


This "scandal" comes at a terrible time for Sarkozy and the French government. France and Germany are the two main countries in the EU currently working tooth and nail to restore the euro. Sarkozy has a lot on his plate regarding the economy and a possible scandal is not going to help his popularity for any future economic proposals. It seems that unless Sarkozy can fix the economy, he will probably not be reelected and the left wing candidates will take over. If Sarkozy hopes to keep his job, with all this on his plate, he better start getting religious cause he is going to need help from a divine power to stay in office.


As the article stated, about 72% of the French responded in a poll stating their belief in their own country's corrupt politicians. Doesn't look like good news for Sarcozy, and especially at such a trivial time in history. Dealing with the current Euro crisis and struggling to keep other European countries afloat, he has alot on his hands. Sarcozy's reputation with the people and the media is already very controversial and spiraling fast, without the looming idea of him being a deceitful leader. Hopefully the French goverment can do something to help revamp hope and security in their country.


I feel as though this is a representation of a larger issue. Sarkozy is on his way out, as is Berlusconi (granted that this is for a myriad of reasons), and Merkel may fall as well. It is not a French issue or a German issue but an EU issue. The one stable economy of the EU cannot support all of the failing ones. Eventually the Euro will have to crash and this spells disaster not only for the EU countries but for America as well. Having so much invested in Europe, if the Euro crashes, we are in for serious economic repercussions.


With Sarkozy's links to this scandal (whether they're true or not), it says something about the company he keeps. 77% is not a good ratio of people to believe that their own government is corupt, though not suprising. With the economy as rough as it is in Europe now, changes in political parties and candidates is going to occur. But Sarkozy's involvement in this scandal has hassened some of that change.


Sarkozy's political career is looking bleak with the change in the majority of the Senate, and having possible connections to scandalous behavior on top of that. His popularity is dropping, and it isn't likely that he'll have a second term in office.


This just adds to the massive pile of problems currently in Europe. Financial scandals in France, enormous debt in Greece, bailout debates in Germany, multiple scandals in Italy and an overall poor economy. This obviously is key in French politics but more importantly I think it adds to the cracked foundation of Europe currently, a foundation in much need of repair. I foresee major changes politically and economically in the next five years as elections roll around in the near future as people rethink the failing systems that they currently have in place.


Sarkozy slipping is just another sign of the EU-3 losing its control. Merkel in Germany is also losing in recent elections, and Europe altogether has been suffering. Once upon a time, Europe was the top dog, but now it is being described as a 'sickly man'.
The switch of power to the left in the House is a major change for France, and reflects very badly on Sarkozy. His time in power is definitely drawing to a close. Now, with this corruption scandal, we are accelerating towards that time.
The EU is not at its prime anymore. Germany is the only country left that is still trucking along, and it is under great pressure to bail everyone out. This is why Merkel is being pushed out, even by her own party. They don't want to be responsible for looking out for everyone else. This situation in France just reminds the world how the East's time may be coming to a close as Europe crumbles and the West is getting steadily stronger.


Corruption is an interesting layer to the already fragile infrastructure Europe has right now. Sarkozy may not be pinned to this but its impact on his respect in France will be in deep trouble. It is important that France gets through this quickly because each decision may indirectly impact that Eurosystem.


Ok well a couple of things here...elections are sked for May 2012 and nobody but nobody imagines that the "current" financial crisis will be finished by that time, and if gthey do then they are incorrect as it will not be...only be pushed out continually until past the French presidential election...noway Sarkozy will let this fall apart while in office...doesn't want the history books to write that it was he in office whilst Europe burned...all the Nero comparisons and such.... So with the prologation in effect until after the election, I would think Mr Sarkozy will and should flat out ask the Socialist party, as they would be his replacement at the Elysee and more than likely would be Francois Hollande as President...aks flat out HOW DO WE FIX THE PROBLEM AND KEEP EUROPE AS ONE......side note: I am not a socialist card carrier nor a ump card carrier either, I belong to no political party, I belong to the political part of my my wife, children etc....BUT I am aware that the best party to get through this crisis in Europe is Sarkozy and co. because they are more business oriented and fend for yourself than the socialists could ever I would have to think that Mr Sarkozy will win the next election as he is the better of the financial managers between them...... I do believe this, I also believe that Mr Obama will be re-elected as status quo come end 2012 for France and America...just my 2 cents worth is all.


It certainly is a historical defeat for the right wing however the majority in a senate does not confer the right to block the political decisions that are taken by Sarkozy's government, at least until he loses his position as chief of state since he still has the majority in the General Assembly.

However it is a strong signal for the right wing and I believe that the UMP party will try to have a new candidate for 2012 with less bad an image than Sarkozy's.

Donna Maddox

Sarkozy seemed to start out in the people's prime eye. People liked him. The French economy is on the down turn and Sarkozy is losing approval in the people of France. This is evident by him losing the Senate support to the other party. I think this downturn has a lot to do with the lack of support of the EU. Is it good? Is it bad? Who knows the future of French politics.


How sad, that the french administration gone heartless to sell Arms-
to Pakistani terrorist, as they did ?
God help us all from terrorist of the day;
Cllr Ken Tiwari (Oxford UK)


Did anybody get surprise about the linkages?
You, guys need to wake up coz the system is made to brake through its faults.


Sarkozy is starting to get himself into trouble. First he lost the Senate to the other party, and now he is at the center of a corruption investigation. Considering the state of Europe right now, Sarkozy needs to focus on keeping France financially sound and helping other European countries that are currently in trouble. Sarkozy needs to do something drastic to if he wants to keep his position. He is in serious trouble, so he must do what he can to save the Euro and Europe as a whole.


It's clear that this is the beginning of the end for Sarkozy. He at least will have to pull out some kind of an economic miracle to stay in office. Considering how extremely unlikely that is we can expect a center-left replacement when the time comes.



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