Sarkozy: France isn’t corrupt – Britain is
By Ian Dunt
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has defended himself against allegations of corruption by bringing up the Westminster expenses scandal.
The president is facing the most devastating scandal of his political career, with accusations that Liliane Bettencourt, the 87-year-old L’Oreal heiress, is being investigated for giving Mr Sarkozy “envelopes stuffed with cash” just before he became president.
In exchange, Mr Sarkozy and labour minister Eric Woerth, then party treasurer, are alleged to have ignored her tax evasions.
Mr Sarkozy spent all weekend preparing for his television appearance last night, in which he tried to convince voters that he was being slandered.
“France is not a corrupt country,” he said.
“The political class, left and right alike, is in general honest. French public officials are people of great rigour.
“The most recent political scandal took place in Britain, not France.”
Mr Sarkozy’s poll ratings are at their lowest level since he came to power.
