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摘要

Francois hollande, France's Socialist president, promised an "exemplary" government. His centre-right predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, pledged an "irreproachable republic". Yet new revelations have exposed dodgy goings-on under both left and right. In March Mr Hollande's budget minister, Jerome Cahuzac, resigned after lying to parliament about a secret Swiss bank account. Now an inquiry into a €403111 ($59om) arbitration payout to Bernard Tapie, a colourful French businessman, is closing in on a circle at the heart of power under Mr Sarkozy.