Latest update: 06/10/2009 

- Dominique de Villepin - mobile phones - schools


French Press Review
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In today's French papers, we look at the ongoing Clearstream trial.
By Aurore Cloe DUPUIS (text)

 

The Clearstream affair
 
The Clearstream case, dubbed as the trial of the century in France, has made most of the front pages this morning.
 
France Soir’s headline is “Rondot knocks out Villepin”
In Aujourd’hui en France : “The Spy that destabilized Villepin”. And Le Figaro reads “The Testimony that shakes Villepin”
 
 
 
The former French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin is accused of trying to smear Nicolas Sarkozy to prevent him from running in the 2007 presidential elections.
 
Villepin has always denied the accusations. On Monday, a key witness was in the dock, General Rondot, who contradicts Villepin.
 
Le Figaro calls Rondot’s testimony the “spine” of the trial. Rondot’s notes are thought to be the only concrete proof in this case.
 
The newspaper says Rondot’s character is important:
He is a retired general, and he’s known to be an honest man.
 
His reputation could sway the judges’ decision in his favour, says the article.
 
If found guilty, Villepin faces up to five years in jail and a 45000-euro
 
 
Also covered in the French Press Review, the use of mobile phones at school. Aujourd’hui en France says that 7% of the teenagers surveyed admitted they’ve secretly filmed their teacher at least once in class.
 
 
On other news, a “fabulous discovery” in Lyon, central France.
 
The local newspaper Le Progres interviewed experts who have found the world’ biggest foot prints.
They belongs to the Sauropod, a dinosaur that was around 100 millions of years ago.
 
 
 
 

 

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