After the numerous protest movements which marked the news in France in March, the Clearstream affair; which made the headlines in April, shook the government up even more.

The accounts read rather like a spy novel with the French media bringing up and reporting on events dating back to January 2004, the investigations led by Michèle Alliot-Marie's Department of Defense as well as that of her former adviser, General Philippe Rondot, or those of the DGSE and EADS. Sometimes called the French equivalent of "Watergate" or "Irangate", the main persons thought to have secret accounts in Luxembourg's finance company, Clearstream, were given a chance to express themselves in the media.

The Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, was often heard in the media explaining his role in the affair, denying any untoward dealings against Nicolas Sarkozy and this despite the statements by Philippe Rondot whereby, the Prime Minister was behind the investigation and he knew that the list was a fake one. Press accounts on the main suspect, Mr. Sarkozy, revealed that the Minister of the Interior had had no prior knowledge of the affair and explained why he had decided to file a civil action suit. One after another, Mr. Chevènement, Mr. Strauss-Kahn, Mr. Madelin, and also EADS and Clearstream, announced that they too intended to file civil action suits, and that they were determined to find out who was behind the "false" accusations against Nicolas Sarkozy and other politicians.

The stormy parlementary debates brought to the fore the left-wing right-wing divisions but also the division now felt within the UMP, which the media reported on at length. Certain delegates, especially left-wingers, denounced "a settling of accounts between the Nation and the UMP". The leader of the Front National political party proclaimed it was only a diversionary tactic one year before the presidential elections.

The press was quick to point out that a number of previous governments, both right-wing and left-wing, had had to face the same kind of rumors a few months before the elections. Several politicians and members of the intelligentsia regretted that the media were so quick to make such a fuss over the affair. Rather like the eternal soap opera, the debate rages on with no end in sight. Will the truth be known one day? What are the real facts and what will the repercussions on political life be in France in the coming months?

One thing is certain. The image of the government and politicians has been tarnished. Will the politicians be able to mobilize their troops, but more importantly will they be able to gain back the voters' confidence before the next presidential elections?

Sylvie Testard-Ramirez, Managing Director, Echo Research France
Analysis and commentary by Echo Research : www.echoResearch.comon the basis of 341 articles which appeared in the daily national press online between April 1st and May 3rd 2006.
11 May 2006