Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top

World

Sarkozy tells cabinet to holiday in France

PARIS, Feb 9 – French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday ordered his ministers to stay in France on holiday to avoid diplomatic gaffes after scandals over hospitality from authoritarian North African leaders.

Sarkozy bowed to criticism from rivals after embarrassing revelations that his prime minister and foreign minister accepted free holiday flights in Egypt and Tunisia, shortly before popular uprisings in both countries.

"From now on, members of the government must prefer France for their holidays," President Nicolas Sarkozy told a cabinet meeting, according to a transcript released by his office.

"Invitations accepted abroad will be authorised by the prime minister and the presidential diplomatic unit… to see whether they are compatible with France\’s foreign policy."

Prime Minister Francois Fillon on Tuesday admitted that he had a New Year family holiday on the Nile paid for by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie had faced calls to resign after she admitted using a private plane owned by a Tunisian businessman who was alleged to have ties to the regime of the country\’s ousted dictator.

"What was common a few years ago can shock nowadays. So it must be strictly monitored," Sarkozy said. "Only by being above reproach will people holding high office strengthen their citizens\’ trust in the state institutions".

Some government allies had rejected the uproar as political attacks by their opponents, but Tuesday\’s revelation by Fillon raised broader laments from opponents over government ethics.

"The crumbling of the public spirit has reached the very top of the state," said Jean-Marc Ayrault, the Socialist parliamentary leader who had led calls for Alliot-Marie to resign.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

"The government must immediately launch a bill on conflicts of interest that will apply to everyone."

"The Sarkozy system has erased the line between power and money," said Jean-Louis Roumegas, spokesman for the minority green party Europe-Ecologie-Les Verts, in a statement before Sarkozy\’s announcement.

"Now a minister sees nothing abnormal in using an oligarch\’s plane or having his holidays paid for by a dictator. That\’s the most serious thing."

Egypt is a key regional ally for France as well as for the United States. North Africa is a popular winter destination for France\’s political elite.

Sarkozy and his pop singer wife Carla Bruni spent their end-of year holiday in Morocco at the Jnane Lekbir royal residence belonging to King Mohammed VI.

Fillon said in a statement that he and his family got a free holiday from December 26 to January 2 in the Nile resort of Aswan, and were treated to a Nile boat ride and a flight on an Egyptian government plane to go sight-seeing.

Alliot-Marie admitted that in December she took two trips in Tunisia in a plane owned by a prominent businessman when the revolt that eventually deposed dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was already under way in the former French colony.

Alliot-Marie denied that the businessman was close to Ben Ali\’s regime. She said she regretted her actions but refused to step down despite repeated calls from the opposition Socialists.

The outcry over Alliot-Marie came at a delicate time, after France was accused of being slow to react to the Tunisian uprising and of indulging Ben Ali\’s authoritarian regime.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

France had warm ties with Ben Ali during his 23 years in power but just after he was driven out, Sarkozy backed the protest movement and denied him refuge in France.

Last week Sarkozy also added his voice to calls for immediate political transition in Egypt as pressure grew on Mubarak to step down amid mass protests.
 

About The Author

Comments
Advertisement

More on Capital News