French press review 18 May 2013

Same-sex marriage now signed into law headlines the French papers today, along with a new giant fiscal fraud scandal involving a prominent French art collector. 

France became the 14th country to legalise gay marriage this Saturday after President François Hollande signed it into law following months of bitter political debate. Hollande put ink on paper a day after the Constitutional Council threw out a legal challenge by the right-wing opposition UMP party, the last obstacle to the law which also legalizes gay adoption.

“Wise men validate homosexual marriage”, headlines Le Figaro apparently resigned to the fact that the acrimonious debate that marked the reform is finally over. The right-wing newspaper finds some solace in the constitutional court’s sanctioning of an article referring to the rights of children, aimed at facilitating adoption by gay couples, laying emphasis instead on the rights of children.

“Bring out the confetti, cameras and prepare the rice, the witnesses and golden rings” shouts Libération, as it celebrates the signing into law of the reform. The left-leaning newspaper brags about “tidings of pride for all” and happiness sweeping through the gay community. For Libé, shouts of happiness and “will you marry me” messages are causing a buzz on Twitter as thousands of gay lovers make their marriage proposals.

On a sarcastic note, Libé has no sympathy for die hard opponents of the gay marriage law, anti-gay coalition leader Frigide Barjot and Christian Democratic leader Christine Boutin, who have vowed to continue their campaign, with a major protest rally scheduled for 26 May in Paris. “Barjot and Boutin will now be able to marry”, jokes Libération, branding the two women as “whinges”.

This time is “yes” screams Aujourd’hui en France pointing to the joyous feelings sweeping through the minds of same sex lovers in contrast to the bitterness of the those against same-sex marriage and who have vowed to lobby mayors and other civil status registrars to distance themselves from gay weddings.

La Croix speaks to a die-hard Catholic mayor and leading figure of the opposition to the anti-gay marriage coalition in the Gironde. He expresses indignation at the alleged usurpation of the principle of marriage destined to ensure genuine parenthood. The mayor of the right-wing hometown of the French revolution leader Montesquieu however expressed readiness to celebrate a gay marriage if asked, in the interest of living together.

Aujourd’hui en France uncovers a giant fiscal fraud scandal involving the family of French art collector Daniel Wildenstein. Heirs to the 21st century tycoon are reported to have dissimulated more than 600 million euros of taxes through a sophisticated system that went undetected for years. Experts tell the Parisian paper that the Wildenstein family fortune is estimated at 10 billion euros pointing out that the state could get back up to 1.5 billion euros in tax fraud penalties.

Libération says that the Budget ministry has denied setting up a “drunk tank” or interrogation room for repenting fraudsters willing to settle their debts. The allegations were floated amid desperate efforts by the government to recover an estimated 36 billion euros of French deposits lying in foreign bank accounts, according to Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici.

Jérôme Cahuzac, the ex-French budget minister sacked for fiscal fraud is on the brink of returning to politics, according to Libération. The left-leaning newspaper says the disgraced Cahuzac now has his eyes set on winning back the parliamentary seat he was forced to abandon. Libé notes that he is running, in open defiance of President François Hollande, his Socialist party and despite an 11 percent popularity rating.