Gruslin-Nasolet

According to the Economist, two junior ministers from the French government have resigned over expense report discrepancies like $ 15,000 Cuban cigars and $ 147,489 for a private jet to fly to "a conference devoted to the penniless victims of the Haiti earthquake." Now scandals all about the acceptance of illegal campaign contributions have touched French Labor Minister Eric Woerth and even President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Post resource: Sarkozy bribing scandal rocks French government

Sarkozy scandal supposedly involves L'Oréal heiress

Various media sources are claiming that Eric Woerth and his wife may have known about alleged tax evasion perpetrated by Liliane Bettencourt, L'Oréal heiress and also the richest woman in Europe. At various dinner parties thrown by Bettencourt, it is common knowledge that the hearing-impaired 87-year-old heiress would distribute envelopes filled with cash to her "friends" who may have needed to borrow money fast to boost their political currency. Considering that Mrs. Woerth also works for Bettencourt in a money management venture, the blind eye turned to Bettencourt's alleged tax evasion and also the allegations of hundreds of thousands of dollars in what could amount to political bribes are particularly damning. In the final act of "Sarkozy Scandal," President Sarkozy accepted nearly $ 200,000 in envelope money while he was nevertheless mayor of Neuilly, a well-to-do Paris suburb.

French law only allows € 7,500 in individual contributions

Fraud is taken very seriously in France. If a politician were to accept more than € 7,500 (just under $ 10,000 USD), authorities take notice. Nicolas Sarkozy and Eric Woerth have denied any wrongdoing, as has Bettencourt. Denials don't really help anyone. The Sarkozy scandal is an additional indication that his reform efforts have tightened the belt for the working class – just in time for the global recession – while maintaining a decadent status quo for the elite. The European Union has cracked down on banker bonuses shouldn't attention be paid to politicians who may be on the take?

Political charisma and insincerity

President Sarkozy has taken the ax to the perks typically of course French politicians. Perhaps he's looking to prove to those beaten down by the sagging global economy that he understands their plight. However, numerous critics find that once the engaging, even alluring presence is set aside, Nicolas Sarkozy is failing to connect with and serve the voting public. If his intended need for additional cash and designed connection to any cash until payday services of Liliane Bettencourt are any indication, then Mr. Sarkozy's scruples have a price.

Citations:

The Economist

economist.com/node/16539490?story_id=16539490&fsrc=rss

National Public Radio

npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128376910

More on the biggest crisis of Sarkozy's presidency:

youtube.com/watch?v=RTn9jldFpes