After a series of scandals under the out-going centre-right president, Nicolas Sarkozy, Frangois Hollande campaigned as the Socialist candidate last year with the promise of creating an "exemplary republic". After he won, his ministers were made to sign a charter of ethics. He cut their pay by 30%, and told them to swap their ministerial cars for the train. This model of modest virtue has, however, been shattered by the confession of Jerome Cahuzac, the former Socialist budget minister who was also in charge of a crackdown on tax evasion, that he had lied about a secret foreign bank account to the president, parliament and the country. His admission has rocked Mr Hollande's presidency, and is threatening to undermine not only his government's moral authority but also its ability to get things done.
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