Schadenfrude Watch: Details on the French political scandals are here. Cutting to the chase: nearly 50 politicos are going to trial for various bribe taking, most surrounding the contracts for building schools. It is said that "everybody" has known about it for years but nobody said anything or reported anything. Those of us who feel that the French corruption covers every part of their society and are approved by same, know that somehow Chirac will not be charged.

The trial will focus on the period from 1989 to 1997, when the centre right UPM (then known as the RPR), the Socialist Party and the Communist Party are alleged to have received "donations" totalling around £60 million from building firms in exchange for the right to renovate Paris' schools.

Kickbacks from Saddam were just not enough to support everyone in French government. $150 million in bribes wouldn't cover one year of the Big Dig in Boston. The French can't even do corruption right. $150 mil divided by 50 isn't even a living wage in New York. However, but, and BTW these charges are old and guess who was mayor of Paris way back then?

A certain M Jacques Chirac was Mayor of Paris between 1977-1995. While the President's legal immunity from prosecution will keep him out of court, the major figures in the corruption scandal were suspiciously close to Chirac. Michel Roussin was Chirac's chief of staff and cabinet secretary for ten years. Michel Giraud was head of the party Chirac dominated in the Paris region.

I won't be satisfied til Catherine Deneuve is stripped naked and burned at the stake.