Look, the first part of my title complies exactly with the thoughts of that mega-swot, the late (although he might be alive for all I know!) Herr Erwin Schrödinger and it is in line with the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics - got that?!
Now, the second half of my title complies with an even more hideously difficult subject, one that is so complex, so filled with paradox that mere mortals will never understand it. I refer, of course, to French law - yeeeeeees, quite!
So today in Paris, the Court of Justice of the Republic – a special tribunal for ministers, although one wonders why they should be given a special court - has found 'Mde. Permatan', aka: Mde. Christine Lagarde, both guilty and not guilty of abusing her power as the then French Minister of Finance when she allowed a €404 million (£340 million) bung award to be paid to a 'right dodgy dealer' called Bernard Tapie. Somehow, in some mysterious way, well this is French law, part of the, er, equation was in the form of that Hungarian dwarf, Sarkozy, who, through the blind stupidity of the French public, was actually and incredibly the President!
Anyway, if found guilty, 'Mde. Permatan' faced a one-year term and a €15,000 (£13,000) fine. Well, she was found guilty but the court imposed no penalty! Look, if your head is aching as you try to understand this might I suggest you return to a study of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, you will find it so much easier!
No wonder the French have perfected the shrug. They've had so much practice.
Posted by: Whyaxye | Monday, 19 December 2016 at 21:10
Bien sure, mon ami! (Shrugs)
Posted by: David Duff | Monday, 19 December 2016 at 21:26
She was not tried in a "normal" court but a special court for ex ministers, composed of her peers.
My understanding is that there is another separate trial coming up for the underlings. So not everything has been discovered, as quite obviously the latter would not have given their defence yet.
So yes, the special court and just 4 lines to explain the verdict explains why people might think it is a whitewash (or tan wash in this case).
Those same politicians then wonder why people vote le Pen....
Posted by: monoi | Tuesday, 20 December 2016 at 11:20
oh, and it is "bien sur"
Posted by: monoi | Tuesday, 20 December 2016 at 11:21
Excusez-moi, Monoi, and, er, what's the French for 'I will hand in my 50 lines by teatime'?
Posted by: David Duff | Tuesday, 20 December 2016 at 12:03
"a special tribunal for ministers"
Really? Really?
"The barons could only be tried by special juries of other barons, who would understand".
Remember that?
Satire is useless these days, I tell you. Useless.
Posted by: Andrew Duffin | Tuesday, 20 December 2016 at 12:10
Really indeed, its not new. Called Cour de Justice de la Republique.
@DD, you could say "Mes 50 lignes seront pretes pour le quatre heures".
Why 4 hours you say...because there is no tea time in France, and the closest equivalent was "le 4 heures" which was the time when kids would get biscuits.
That said, "pour l'aperitif" is probably more relevant!
Posted by: monoi | Tuesday, 20 December 2016 at 12:56
"Merci beaucoup", Monoi, make mine an ice-cold dry martini, er, with Noilly Prat, naturellement!
Posted by: David Duff | Tuesday, 20 December 2016 at 14:44