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| Row over Sarkozy's costly shower | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy has come under fire over a shower built for him that auditors say cost 276,000 euros (£250,000) - but was never used. | |
| The shower, in the Grand Palace in Paris, was for his sole use at a Union of the Mediterranean summit held during France's six-month EU presidency. | The shower, in the Grand Palace in Paris, was for his sole use at a Union of the Mediterranean summit held during France's six-month EU presidency. |
| But the leader preferred to wash in the Elysee Palace 10 minutes away. The new shower has since been dismantled. | But the leader preferred to wash in the Elysee Palace 10 minutes away. The new shower has since been dismantled. |
| The French European Union presidency was one of the most costly in history. | The French European Union presidency was one of the most costly in history. |
| Details of expenditure have been revealed in figures published by the French national audit office. | Details of expenditure have been revealed in figures published by the French national audit office. |
| Surround sound | Surround sound |
| The shower at the Grand Palace was custom built for the 5ft 5in (1.6m) president in a listed building and had massage and surround sound radio functions, the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper reported. | The shower at the Grand Palace was custom built for the 5ft 5in (1.6m) president in a listed building and had massage and surround sound radio functions, the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper reported. |
| The three-day summit during which it was intended to be used cost 16.6m euros to stage in total. Other expenses included £90,000 for a carpet and nearly £300,000 for a conference podium. | The three-day summit during which it was intended to be used cost 16.6m euros to stage in total. Other expenses included £90,000 for a carpet and nearly £300,000 for a conference podium. |
| The French Court of Accounts put the total cost of the presidency, which ran from July to December 2008, at 171m euros (£154m). | The French Court of Accounts put the total cost of the presidency, which ran from July to December 2008, at 171m euros (£154m). |
| Usually the rotating presidency of the EU costs 70-80m euros. Only Germany has previously spent as much on it as France, the AFP news agency reported. | Usually the rotating presidency of the EU costs 70-80m euros. Only Germany has previously spent as much on it as France, the AFP news agency reported. |
| Its report said France had organised 489 EU events during its presidency, including nine summits, 25 ministerial meetings and 328 seminars and symposiums. | Its report said France had organised 489 EU events during its presidency, including nine summits, 25 ministerial meetings and 328 seminars and symposiums. |