A French author, a judge no less, has been blocked, at least temporarily, from stating the blindingly obvious and then documenting it. There is a bit of a civil war going on in France too.
A Paris court last night halted publication of a book by a former investigating magistrate that claims France is institutionally corrupt. The book by Eva Joly, who uncovered political and financial corruption at the Elf oil company, is the first by a judge to have been blocked by the French courts.Posted by Alan at June 19, 2003 06:35 AMThe court ruled that publication of Is This The World We Want To Live In? might prejudice the trial of former Elf executives, now in its third month, which has already revealed the extent of political and financial corruption in France. The court ordered that publication, intended for today, must be postponed until the trial is over. Mme Joly said she would appeal.
Arnaud Montebourg, a Socialist MP, said she should be given the Legion d'Honneur rather than be attacked for her honesty. Mme Joly, 57, said the French establishment was one of the most rotten in Europe. "It is a country of networks that don't like to be challenged."