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| The politics of excess in France | The politics of excess in France |
| (4 days later) | |
| By Emma Jane Kirby BBC News, Paris | By Emma Jane Kirby BBC News, Paris |
| French President Jacques Chirac - due to step down soon - is the latest in a long line of political grandees who have made the most of the trappings of high office. | French President Jacques Chirac - due to step down soon - is the latest in a long line of political grandees who have made the most of the trappings of high office. |
| The French are very tolerant of the spoils of political officeLast weekend I went to an auction at Paris town hall where the authorities were selling off 5,000 bottles of vintage wine from the hospitality cellars. | |
| Many of them - now worth around £1,000 a piece - came from the time when Jacques Chirac was mayor, a time when he and his wife Bernadette were in the habit of spending nearly £500 per day on their personal food and drink alone. | Many of them - now worth around £1,000 a piece - came from the time when Jacques Chirac was mayor, a time when he and his wife Bernadette were in the habit of spending nearly £500 per day on their personal food and drink alone. |
| I called a left-leaning political commentator who is a frequent Chirac-basher and asked her what she thought about his exorbitant spending when mayor. | I called a left-leaning political commentator who is a frequent Chirac-basher and asked her what she thought about his exorbitant spending when mayor. |
| I fully expected her response to contain phrases such as "a disgraceful squandering of tax payers money" or perhaps "a blatant rape of public funds". | I fully expected her response to contain phrases such as "a disgraceful squandering of tax payers money" or perhaps "a blatant rape of public funds". |
| But what she did say was something quite different. | But what she did say was something quite different. |
| A ruler not only can get away with it, he is expected to get away with it "Chirac was the King of Paris," she told me. "Luxury was the way of life. Mitterrand used his presidential helicopter just to go for lunch with friends. | A ruler not only can get away with it, he is expected to get away with it "Chirac was the King of Paris," she told me. "Luxury was the way of life. Mitterrand used his presidential helicopter just to go for lunch with friends. |
| "Every politician lived like that at the time. People were just much less sensitive to excess." | "Every politician lived like that at the time. People were just much less sensitive to excess." |
| In France a ruler not only can get away with it, he is expected to get away with it. | In France a ruler not only can get away with it, he is expected to get away with it. |
| They may not have had a monarchy since 1792, but French politicians still seem to be able to tap into some sort of regal reserve. | They may not have had a monarchy since 1792, but French politicians still seem to be able to tap into some sort of regal reserve. |
| Yes, you can criticise them - but there is a general acceptance that misdemeanours and misconduct are part of a leader's prerogative. | Yes, you can criticise them - but there is a general acceptance that misdemeanours and misconduct are part of a leader's prerogative. |
| The Gallic shrug | The Gallic shrug |
| It seems if you are clever enough to make it to the top, then you have an almost divine right to put your fingers in as many pies as you wish. | It seems if you are clever enough to make it to the top, then you have an almost divine right to put your fingers in as many pies as you wish. |
| In a poll 71% of French people said they do not trust their politicians Rulers have privileges the workers do not. | In a poll 71% of French people said they do not trust their politicians Rulers have privileges the workers do not. |
| It is not that the French are unaware of the various scandals and sleaze aimed at their political elite - this time last year a poll revealed that 71% of French people do not trust their politicians and just under half of them believe they are corrupt and incompetent. | It is not that the French are unaware of the various scandals and sleaze aimed at their political elite - this time last year a poll revealed that 71% of French people do not trust their politicians and just under half of them believe they are corrupt and incompetent. |
| But you can almost see the Gallic shrug and hear the words: "Well, what can you do about it?" | But you can almost see the Gallic shrug and hear the words: "Well, what can you do about it?" |
| Take the long running satirical puppet show, Les Guignols de L'info, the popular French equivalent of Spitting Image. | Take the long running satirical puppet show, Les Guignols de L'info, the popular French equivalent of Spitting Image. |
| The latex model of President Chirac has probably appeared on the show more than any other public figure but the puppet rarely looks the same. | The latex model of President Chirac has probably appeared on the show more than any other public figure but the puppet rarely looks the same. |
| His character shamelessly told the most outrageous lies and made the most impossible promises For a while he was portrayed as a Pulp Fiction villain, ruthlessly mowing down his political opponents. | His character shamelessly told the most outrageous lies and made the most impossible promises For a while he was portrayed as a Pulp Fiction villain, ruthlessly mowing down his political opponents. |
| Then in 2001 after he was suddenly lambasted with a long list of corruption allegations, most of which related to his 18-year stint as mayor of Paris, the programme began to depict him as Super Menteur or Super Liar, complete with superhero cape and tights. | Then in 2001 after he was suddenly lambasted with a long list of corruption allegations, most of which related to his 18-year stint as mayor of Paris, the programme began to depict him as Super Menteur or Super Liar, complete with superhero cape and tights. |
| His character shamelessly told the most outrageous lies and made the most impossible promises, but at the same time he was strangely admirable too. | His character shamelessly told the most outrageous lies and made the most impossible promises, but at the same time he was strangely admirable too. |
| In France, anti-heroes can be just as cool as superheroes. | In France, anti-heroes can be just as cool as superheroes. |
| In fact there was criticism in 1995 that the Guignol's portrayal of Chirac as a loveable rogue helped him get elected to the Elysee. | In fact there was criticism in 1995 that the Guignol's portrayal of Chirac as a loveable rogue helped him get elected to the Elysee. |
| Passing passions | Passing passions |
| The French appetite for scandal is just not as strong as the British appetite. Like mistresses, the sleaze allegations come and go. | The French appetite for scandal is just not as strong as the British appetite. Like mistresses, the sleaze allegations come and go. |
| Both Sarkozy and Villepin say they are victims of smear campaignsAt Easter time, France was rocked by the Clearstream affair in which Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin was accused of trying to damage the Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy's political career by making false allegations of corruption against him. | |
| Now, apart from a vague interest in who is going to be called as a witness to the judicial inquiry, the passion for uncovering the truth has all but gone. | Now, apart from a vague interest in who is going to be called as a witness to the judicial inquiry, the passion for uncovering the truth has all but gone. |
| Two years ago, Alain Juppe, the closest confident of Jacques Chirac, faced political exile in Canada after being found guilty of mishandling public funds. | Two years ago, Alain Juppe, the closest confident of Jacques Chirac, faced political exile in Canada after being found guilty of mishandling public funds. |
| Earlier this month the "disgraced" politician enjoyed a prodigal son's return when he was re-elected mayor of Bordeaux with more than 56% of the vote. | Earlier this month the "disgraced" politician enjoyed a prodigal son's return when he was re-elected mayor of Bordeaux with more than 56% of the vote. |
| And Bernard Tapie, part businessman, part politician, part actor, part sports star, has even been jailed for corruption - only to emerge triumphantly from prison to record a rap song called Life is Beautiful. | And Bernard Tapie, part businessman, part politician, part actor, part sports star, has even been jailed for corruption - only to emerge triumphantly from prison to record a rap song called Life is Beautiful. |
| Perk of the job | Perk of the job |
| Let us just go back a minute to those mistresses. | Let us just go back a minute to those mistresses. |
| In the UK, former Conservative minister David Mellor was forced to resign after allegations of toe-sucking while wearing a Chelsea football shirt, and in the US, President Clinton faced impeachment for sharing little more than a cigar with Monica. | In the UK, former Conservative minister David Mellor was forced to resign after allegations of toe-sucking while wearing a Chelsea football shirt, and in the US, President Clinton faced impeachment for sharing little more than a cigar with Monica. |
| French politicians enjoy a much longer leash. Here, playing away, like playing the system, is only to be expected. | French politicians enjoy a much longer leash. Here, playing away, like playing the system, is only to be expected. |
| A recent biography of Mr Chirac chuckles over tales from his former driver about how he would drop him off at his lover's house for five minutes and then remind him to button up his flies when he got back in the car. | A recent biography of Mr Chirac chuckles over tales from his former driver about how he would drop him off at his lover's house for five minutes and then remind him to button up his flies when he got back in the car. |
| At Mitterand's funeral, his wife and his long term mistress stood side-by-side at the grave, accompanied by their respective legitimate and illegitimate children - and the press made no comment. | At Mitterand's funeral, his wife and his long term mistress stood side-by-side at the grave, accompanied by their respective legitimate and illegitimate children - and the press made no comment. |
| No doubt he will be counting on his nation's readiness to forgive and forget Extra-marital affairs in French politics are seen more as a perk of the job than as proof that the straying politician cannot be trusted. | No doubt he will be counting on his nation's readiness to forgive and forget Extra-marital affairs in French politics are seen more as a perk of the job than as proof that the straying politician cannot be trusted. |
| Mr Chirac's political career has spanned more than 40 years. | Mr Chirac's political career has spanned more than 40 years. |
| During that time, he has been voted the most popular politician since Pompidou and the worst since records began. | During that time, he has been voted the most popular politician since Pompidou and the worst since records began. |
| In just over six months' time when France holds new elections, his long enjoyed presidential immunity will come screeching to a halt. | In just over six months' time when France holds new elections, his long enjoyed presidential immunity will come screeching to a halt. |
| No doubt, he will be counting on his nation's readiness to forgive and forget and for their continuing ability to turn the blind eye. | No doubt, he will be counting on his nation's readiness to forgive and forget and for their continuing ability to turn the blind eye. |
| As his hero Charles de Gaulle once said: "I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French." | As his hero Charles de Gaulle once said: "I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French." |
| From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Thursday, 26 October, 2006 at 1100 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times. | From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Thursday, 26 October, 2006 at 1100 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times. |