Chirac breaks silence on political scandal

10/05/2006 - 11:10:31
President Jacques Chirac today denounced the “dictatorship of rumours” at the heart of a political scandal threatening the French government, and expressed confidence in his prime minister.

“I have full confidence in the government of Dominique de Villepin, to lead the mission I gave him,” Chirac said of the prime minister, who has faced growing pressure to resign.

It was the first time the president had spoken out personally on the scandal.