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Murky tale behind French PM's trial Murky tale behind French PM's trial
(about 4 hours later)
By Emma Jane Kirby BBC News, ParisBy Emma Jane Kirby BBC News, Paris
It has all the makings of a blockbuster political thriller, but if the Clearstream case was fiction then surely any editor reviewing the manuscript would send it back to the author with the comments: "plot too complicated and story line a little far fetched."It has all the makings of a blockbuster political thriller, but if the Clearstream case was fiction then surely any editor reviewing the manuscript would send it back to the author with the comments: "plot too complicated and story line a little far fetched."
The gist of the story is more or less this:The gist of the story is more or less this:
A pair of ambitious and rival ministers are fighting for a chance to win the French presidency.A pair of ambitious and rival ministers are fighting for a chance to win the French presidency.
The two men could not be more different - Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, a suave ex-diplomat and poet from a high-class family who fits perfectly into the French political elite, and then-Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, an outspoken, ambitious man, with Hungarian ancestry, intent on shaking up the established system. The two men could not be more different - Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, a suave ex-diplomat and poet from a high-class family who fits perfectly into the French political elite, and then-Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, an outspoken, ambitious man with Hungarian ancestry, intent on shaking up the established system.
Mr de Villepin is the darling, the "chou chou", of President Jacques Chirac and his chosen successor - he is the man who charmed the United Nations with his eloquent defence of France's refusal to join the war in Iraq in 2003 with the words: "We are the guardians of an ideal, the guardians of a conscience." Mr de Villepin is the darling - the "chou chou" - of President Jacques Chirac and his chosen successor. He is the man who charmed the United Nations with his eloquent defence of France's refusal to join the war in Iraq in 2003 with the words: "We are the guardians of an ideal, the guardians of a conscience."
Mr Sarkozy, on the other hand is a cunning lawyer and businessman, a pro-American who has declared war on the "riff raff" and "scum" in France's downtrodden suburbs. Mr Sarkozy, on the other hand, is a cunning lawyer and businessman, a pro-American who has declared war on the "riff raff" and "scum" in France's downtrodden suburbs.
He's the man Mr de Villepin is known to refer to in private as "that dwarf".He's the man Mr de Villepin is known to refer to in private as "that dwarf".
Anonymous informerAnonymous informer
So that is the background of the story, but how did we get to the chapter where, five years on, Mr de Villepin is standing trial charged with slander, falsifying documents, dealing in stolen property and breach of trust?So that is the background of the story, but how did we get to the chapter where, five years on, Mr de Villepin is standing trial charged with slander, falsifying documents, dealing in stolen property and breach of trust?
The Clearstream case dates back to 2001 when judges opened an investigation into the sale of French warships to Taiwan 10 years earlier.The Clearstream case dates back to 2001 when judges opened an investigation into the sale of French warships to Taiwan 10 years earlier.
One of the judges, Renaud Van Ruymbeke, received from a "corbeau", or an anonymous informer, a CD-ROM with a list of people who allegedly held bank accounts at a Luxembourg-based securities clearing house called Clearstream.One of the judges, Renaud Van Ruymbeke, received from a "corbeau", or an anonymous informer, a CD-ROM with a list of people who allegedly held bank accounts at a Luxembourg-based securities clearing house called Clearstream.
Mr Villepin rejected the allegations against him as 'a tissue of calumnies and ignoble lies', while for his part Mr Sarkozy filed for defamation Former French PM's trial to startMr Villepin rejected the allegations against him as 'a tissue of calumnies and ignoble lies', while for his part Mr Sarkozy filed for defamation Former French PM's trial to start
The informer suggested the account holders were those who had received a series of illegal kickbacks from international arms sales including those of French frigates to Taiwan.The informer suggested the account holders were those who had received a series of illegal kickbacks from international arms sales including those of French frigates to Taiwan.
Among the 89 top businessmen and politicians named on the list were "Nagy" and "Bosca" - the middle names of Nicolas Sarkozy, whose father was Hungarian.Among the 89 top businessmen and politicians named on the list were "Nagy" and "Bosca" - the middle names of Nicolas Sarkozy, whose father was Hungarian.
When a judge concluded the listings were false, the focus of the investigation quickly became who was behind the spurious allegations.When a judge concluded the listings were false, the focus of the investigation quickly became who was behind the spurious allegations.
Magistrates want to know whether that person was Mr de Villepin, trying to conduct a smear campaign against Mr Sarkozy to spoil his chances of winning the 2007 election.Magistrates want to know whether that person was Mr de Villepin, trying to conduct a smear campaign against Mr Sarkozy to spoil his chances of winning the 2007 election.
Mr de Villepin rejected the allegations against him as "a tissue of calumnies and ignoble lies", while for his part Mr Sarkozy filed for defamation. Mr de Villepin rejected the allegations against him as "a tissue of calumnies and ignoble lies" while, for his part, Mr Sarkozy filed for defamation.
Boardroom struggleBoardroom struggle
And this is where the waters of Clearstream get murkier still.And this is where the waters of Clearstream get murkier still.
Part of the intention of drawing up this elaborate forgery seems to have been to discredit senior figures in the aerospace group EADS, to influence the outcome of a boardroom leadership struggle.Part of the intention of drawing up this elaborate forgery seems to have been to discredit senior figures in the aerospace group EADS, to influence the outcome of a boardroom leadership struggle.
In 2006 the former vice-president of EADS Jean Louis Gergorin admitted that he gave the list, which also included his boss Philippe Delmas, to judicial authorities - but he also claims he was acting on orders from Mr de Villepin and President Chirac. In 2006, the former vice-president of EADS Jean Louis Gergorin admitted that he gave the list, which also included his boss Philippe Delmas, to judicial authorities - but he also claims he was acting on orders from Mr de Villepin and President Chirac.
Jean-Louis Gergorin admits giving a list of names to prosecutorsJean-Louis Gergorin admits giving a list of names to prosecutors
It is certainly true that Mr de Villepin had called a meeting in the first weeks of 2004 to discuss the undeclared bank accounts at Clearstream and had asked a senior intelligence figure, General Philippe Rondot, to investigate.It is certainly true that Mr de Villepin had called a meeting in the first weeks of 2004 to discuss the undeclared bank accounts at Clearstream and had asked a senior intelligence figure, General Philippe Rondot, to investigate.
Mr de Villepin admits calling the meeting because he says as foreign minister at the time, he feared Clearstream posed a threat to "national security". Mr de Villepin admits calling the meeting because he says, as foreign minister at the time, he feared Clearstream posed a threat to "national security".
Gen Rondot claims he was asked specifically to investigate Mr Sarkozy's involvement.Gen Rondot claims he was asked specifically to investigate Mr Sarkozy's involvement.
Two summers ago, police searched Mr de Villepin's house and took away hard drives from his computer.Two summers ago, police searched Mr de Villepin's house and took away hard drives from his computer.
Shortly afterwards, he was summoned for questioning and then ordered to stand trial.Shortly afterwards, he was summoned for questioning and then ordered to stand trial.
Beside him in the dock are a host of other characters from businessmen to journalists, charged with everything from stealing documents to falsifying information.Beside him in the dock are a host of other characters from businessmen to journalists, charged with everything from stealing documents to falsifying information.
If Clearstream really were a political thriller, it would be at this point that editors would be demanding the plot was substantially thinned.If Clearstream really were a political thriller, it would be at this point that editors would be demanding the plot was substantially thinned.
The trial is likely to last at least four weeks and if Mr de Villepin is found guilty, he faces a huge fine and up to five years in prison.The trial is likely to last at least four weeks and if Mr de Villepin is found guilty, he faces a huge fine and up to five years in prison.
But like all good political thrillers, Clearstream will not tell you whodunnit immediately - a verdict in this most complex of cases is not expected for months to come. But like all good political thrillers, Clearstream will not tell you whodunnit immediately - a verdict in this most complex of cases is not expected for some time to come.