as we have the same hopeless situation in Australia between our current Conservative Prime Minister and a very weak leader of the Opposition Labor Party to which I belong. So many of us are so frustrated by it. Fortunately the Greens here are strong, united and 80% palatable.  So there is an alternative that while not strong enough to win outright can at least often hold the balance of power.

In so many countries the days of great "statespersonship" is so over.  This is what I am lamenting, not France in general.

It is a contempt for a person who refuses to tell the truth about a major issue she may have or may have not been part of.

All she would need to say is the following:

"I knew nothing about the terrorist plot to sink the Rainbow Warrior from with my job in the Government or from my family.  I find the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior an unacceptable terrorist attack and condemn anyone's active involvement in it.  I furthermore greatly regret the loss of life involved and resolve to not let anything of this nature occur during my presidency".

But no, she would rather hem and haw and praise her brother's sterling military career.  

Not the kind of statesperson I would want.  Is honesty and integrity really that hard?

I like the silence of a church, before the service begins better than any preaching. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson