France's ex-prime minister Dominique de Villepin has filed a law suit against Nicolas Sarkozy after the president called him and other defendants in a smear trial "guilty".
Villepin accuses Sarkozy of violating his right to presumption of innocence when he said in a television interview last week that the "guilty parties" in the so-called Clearstream affair were on trial.
Under French law, the head of state enjoys immunity from legal action and the suit would in theory only be heard once Sarkozy is out of office.
France's most politically charged trial in years opened last week with Villepin and four other defendants accused of taking part in a plot hatched in 2003-2004 to smear Sarkozy and derail his bid for the French presidency.
Villepin and Sarkozy were then bitter rivals in the struggle for the governing right-wing party's nomination to succeed president Jacques Chirac.
Villepin described the comments as "unacceptable" and argued that Sarkozy had "an obligation to refrain from commenting" on matters before the courts.
Opposition politicians said Sarkozy's remarks made on French television were a "revealing slip of the tongue" that showed he was not impartial in the case involving his arch-rival, Villepin.
Showing posts with label French Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French Politics. Show all posts
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
French farmers refuse to repay €330m in state grants
French farmers have rejected a demand to repay hundreds of millions of euros in state subsidies that have been ruled illegal by the European Commission.
François Lafitte, leader of Fédécom, the fruit and vegetable producers' union, said paying back the €330m given to farmers between 1992 and 2002 would bankrupt them.
"Nobody will pay these subsidies," he said. "Firstly, because the amounts put forward by Brussels don't add up. Secondly, because it would spell ruin for the industry."
Mr Lafitte said the subsidies had helped fruit and vegetable producers "face up to competition" from Spain and Portugal.
Between 1992 and 2002, the French state agricultural agency awarded over €330m in grants to help farmers struggling from a crisis of oversupply of French products in the European market. The money was meant to help farmers lower their prices and find temporary storage for surplus harvest.
In January, the Commission ruled that the subsidies were unlawful and likely to distort competition in the European market. France was ordered to reclaim the original subsidies plus interest.
Mr Le Maire's predecessor, Michel Barnier, launched an appeal at the European court of justice in April to reduce the amount claimed by Brussels. While the exact figure has yet to be agreed, the new agricultural minister believes the process of reimbursement should begin regardless, warning that if the appeal were lost, France would have to pay even more than the €330m plus interest of €100m-€150m that has so far been invoiced.
The calls for repayment come at a difficult time for French farmers, with prices for fruit and vegetables 30-40 per cent lower than the weekly average of the past five years, according to Modef, the farmers' union.
This is not the first time France has been rapped by Brussels for illegal subsidies. In 2002, the European court ruled that France had given illegal financial aid to cognac producers. France admitted the subsidies had been against European law but remains mired in a battle with the cognac producers to reclaim the funds. In both cases, if the subsidies are not paid back, Brussels can order France to pay a fine and daily penalties
François Lafitte, leader of Fédécom, the fruit and vegetable producers' union, said paying back the €330m given to farmers between 1992 and 2002 would bankrupt them.
"Nobody will pay these subsidies," he said. "Firstly, because the amounts put forward by Brussels don't add up. Secondly, because it would spell ruin for the industry."
Mr Lafitte said the subsidies had helped fruit and vegetable producers "face up to competition" from Spain and Portugal.
Between 1992 and 2002, the French state agricultural agency awarded over €330m in grants to help farmers struggling from a crisis of oversupply of French products in the European market. The money was meant to help farmers lower their prices and find temporary storage for surplus harvest.
In January, the Commission ruled that the subsidies were unlawful and likely to distort competition in the European market. France was ordered to reclaim the original subsidies plus interest.
Mr Le Maire's predecessor, Michel Barnier, launched an appeal at the European court of justice in April to reduce the amount claimed by Brussels. While the exact figure has yet to be agreed, the new agricultural minister believes the process of reimbursement should begin regardless, warning that if the appeal were lost, France would have to pay even more than the €330m plus interest of €100m-€150m that has so far been invoiced.
The calls for repayment come at a difficult time for French farmers, with prices for fruit and vegetables 30-40 per cent lower than the weekly average of the past five years, according to Modef, the farmers' union.
This is not the first time France has been rapped by Brussels for illegal subsidies. In 2002, the European court ruled that France had given illegal financial aid to cognac producers. France admitted the subsidies had been against European law but remains mired in a battle with the cognac producers to reclaim the funds. In both cases, if the subsidies are not paid back, Brussels can order France to pay a fine and daily penalties
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Obama strikes the right note with France.
The European reaction to president Obama and the thorny issue of Afghanistan seems to be varying between European member states. Recently Spain posted a distinctly cold reaction to the suggestion of further troops being sent to the area, a view which also looks to be shared by Germany.
France seems to have had a more favorable first impression of the Obama administration’s approach to thorny problems like Afghanistan. Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier stated that the desire to plunge right in to contentious issues and a willingness to listen to allies’ input are setting the new Washington administration apart from its predecessors.
“What is very striking is the difference in tonality in the posture and in how (the U.S.) listens,” Chevallier said.
This would be a turnaround from the view in Europe of a Bush administration reluctant to consult with allies. That stance fed the cautiousness of an already prickly France which had led opposition to the war in Iraq.
France seems to have had a more favorable first impression of the Obama administration’s approach to thorny problems like Afghanistan. Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier stated that the desire to plunge right in to contentious issues and a willingness to listen to allies’ input are setting the new Washington administration apart from its predecessors.
“What is very striking is the difference in tonality in the posture and in how (the U.S.) listens,” Chevallier said.
This would be a turnaround from the view in Europe of a Bush administration reluctant to consult with allies. That stance fed the cautiousness of an already prickly France which had led opposition to the war in Iraq.
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