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Article: French Premier Calls Leasing Scandal Allegations `Murky,' `Mean- Spirited'
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- July 7, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Less than two months after he was chosen to head the new
government of President Jacques Chirac, the political honeymoon of
Prime Minister Alain Juppe has been cut short by an embarrassing
housing scandal and fresh doubts about his ambitious jobs-creation
plan.
Juppe is accused of abusing his office by intervening with the
Paris municipal government to lease city-owned apartments at below-
market rates for himself and several family members -- apartments
that had been lavishly renovated at taxpayer expense.
While the leases appear to be legal, they have stirred suspicions
of political sleaze and revived voter distrust in a ruling
establishment virtually monopolized by conservatives after ...