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Row over Sarkozy's costly shower Row over Sarkozy's unused shower
(about 2 hours 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. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has come under fire over a shower built at taxpayers' expense but 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, Paris, was intended for his 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. French opposition MP Rene Dosiere accused Mr Sarkozy of spending 245,000 euros (£221,000) on the shower.
The French European Union presidency was one of the most costly in history. But a spokesman for Mr Sarkozy's UMP party said the figure was for the renovation of a suite of rooms.
Details of expenditure have been revealed in figures published by the French national audit office. The French European Union presidency, which ran from July to December 2008, was one of the most expensive in history.
The French Court of Accounts put the total cost at 171m euros (£154m).
Surround soundSurround 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 three-day summit during which the shower was intended to be used cost 16.6m euros to stage in total, according to the French Court of Accounts.
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. An earlier BBC News website story reported that the installation of the shower alone cost 245,000 euros.
The French Court of Accounts put the total cost of the presidency, which ran from July to December 2008, at 171m euros (£154m). But UMP spokesman Frederic Lefebvre said that figure covered the refurbishment of a suite of eight rooms and bathrooms for the use of heads of state.
Mr Dosiere, a socialist MP, on Tuesday commented on the cost of the shower as he criticised what he described as the "incredible, insupportable and unacceptable expenses" of the French EU presidency.
Other expenses included £90,000 for a carpet and nearly £300,000 for a conference podium, according to a copy of the French Court of Accounts report published on the Mediapart website.
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.
A spokesman for the European Commission said the vast majority of the budget for the costs of the rotating EU presidency comes from the member state concerned.