PARIS (AP) – Politicians from France’s opposition Socialist Party on Monday demanded to know who was footing the bill for conservative French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s New England vacation.
The Sarkozys have been staying in New Hampshire at an estate on Lake Winnipesaukee that is owned by former Microsoft Corp. executive Michael Appe. The estate can be rented for $30,000 (euro21,900) a week, according to a rental Web site.
Sarkozy told reporters a day earlier that some friends had rented the house and invited him and his family. He did not identify the friends.
“The French people … have the right to know which generous donor is paying such a price for our president, and to whom he must show his gratitude to in one way or another,” former Socialist Agriculture Minister Jean Glavany said in a statement.
Another Socialist, former European Affairs minister Pierre Moscovici, said: “This is not about casting suspicion on his honesty, his integrity or independence, but the head of state is not like everybody else.”
“In every situation, and even on vacation, he represents France,” Moscovici was quoted as saying in Le Parisien newspaper.
At a news conference Sunday, Sarkozy tried to put a stop to curiosity about his vacation in the town of Wolfeboro, which traces its history back to 1759 and claims to be the oldest summer resort in America.
“I’m in Wolfeboro because I have friends who have been coming here for years, who told me that it was rural America, the America we love, with forests, lakes and tranquility,” Sarkozy said. “They have been coming for years, they rented a house, they invited us, period.”
AP-ES-08-06-07 1436EDT
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