European Politicians and the Law

RH: Are there other countries which make this distinction between public and private figures? In many countries, as in France, an elected official cannot be sued as long as he is in office. In the US he can be impeached or recalled.

CJ: It would be interesting to find out the rules governing the officials of the EU and the deputies to the European parliament. In particular, the socialist members of the Strasbourg chamber are known as outright "retired" crooks -- promiment among them is Spanish PSOE Eurodeputy Enrique Barón Crespo who I mentioned a long time ago. His presidency (it rotates every six months) was an orgy of construction contracts, without any counterbids and lacking the vital approval of the financial committee. In fact the very headquarters of the EU parliament (known as the "Caprice des dieux" after a popular cheese) is a relic of the Barón presidency.

France is stewing with its own mudslinging festival that has resulted in a conviction with a suspended sentence for Alain Juppé, Chirac's erstwhile dauphin. Juppé has been convicted of corrupt practices and banned from holding public office for the next ten years as punishment for the antics of the Chirac administration in the Paris town hall. (Juppé was deputy mayor) However to everyone's surprise, Juppé has refused to budge and remains in his various political posts (including the leadership of the UMP -- Chriac's party) until the outcome of the appeal process. It is common knowledge that Chirac is in this affair up to his, well you know, and Juppé looks as though he doesn't want to take the fall for his patron. As much as I have lambasted the similarity between US Republicans and Democrats in the past, in all fairness I have to admit the curious cleptomaniac similarities inside the mainstream French center right and left.

RH: I cannot confirm or reject the charges which Christopher makes- I am happy that the EU now has an impressive building in Btussels