Acts of transparency are also under study

the leaders of the UMP are given breathing yesterday. Very carefully. It was almost the first time since the publication of the records of the Butler of Liliane Bettencourt, and thirteen days that the press brought no elements to destabilize the Minister of labour. However, yesterday, late evening, the heir to the Peugeot, Robert Peugeot family, was ready to take justice to clarify information of press that he had dinner with the Minister labour to discuss tax issues after a flight. And Furthermore, source close to the record, it learned that the Butler had received ilicitans euros of premiums at leave the service of the billionaire.

However, issues today in the Assembly to announce rough, not only because PS is determined to maintain pressure against the Government (read above against). But the Elysee hope that the controversy today itself. Summer holidays are far.

It is true that, if the case does not affect Nicolas Sarkozy personally (unlike the accession of his son Jean at the head of the Epad, for example), it is endangering the whole of his political strategy to two years in the presidential election of 2012. Alleged proximity to Eric Woerth with Bettencourt and Peugeot families awakens in the opinion the memories of the Fouquet's even as the President of the Republic has been three months working in a more discreet posture. He put on his next action head G20 saw the exercise of Toronto fully second this weekend. At two press conferences, Nicolas Sarkozy was arraigned on Eric Woerth: both widely supported his Minister, but his annoyance, the second time, was palpable. But most importantly, the polemic touch the probably the most strategic of the end of the quinquennium Minister: it is he who is the last major reform of Nicolas Sarkozy, that of pensions, him which was cited as one of the few possible replacements of François Fillon at the next reshuffle, him as Treasurer of the UMP will handle the financing of the presidential campaign. Man is a cornerstone and the time is more inappropriate, while the attack on pensions is on the rise. Nicolas Sarkozy hopes still have a political cartridge, in the fall, turning the page of social tensions through a new Government team which will put the cap on the presidential election. Any departure from Eric Woerth, with Government adjustment resulting, certainly grillerait this presidential cartridge.

Do block

Add these elements to its strategic position as Treasurer of the UMP, understand why luggage has been given to the UMP to block behind Eric Woerth. A block who has known no fault so far, if you exclude this "Council" given yesterday by Alain Juppe: "the situation which led him to his post as Minister and Treasurer of the UMP may create difficulties, I think that it should ...". "choose", said yesterday the former Prime Minister, while Eric Woerth had firmly excluded this possibility Sunday. In the meantime, the UMP insists that the Minister "has done nothing illegal" and sounded the charge against the PS who "orchestrates a manhunt", according to Xavier Bertrand.

But do block does not clear the field. The "reduction of the life of the State train" operation started yesterday with the letter of Nicolas Sarkozy to François Fillon. A meeting of major donors of planned UMP yesterday was adjourned in extremis. François Fillon appears since Friday called for more involvement on pensions, the Elysee believing that Eric Woerth is more defended him as his reform since the beginning of the case. Acts of "transparency" are also under study. After the announcement by François Baroin, the Minister of the Budget, of a study on the fortune of the Bettencourt, some argue for a parliamentary inquiry or an investigation by "third parties", as Eric Woerth has himself suggested. As the Minister of labour, he remained silent yesterday, after these last few days be much expressed (too, according to some the UMP). Only his wife was recognized in "The world" "underestimated the conflict of interests" between the functions of her husband and his own.

The chronology of the case on lesechos.fr/francelesechos.fr/france