Beleaguered Sarkozy to address nation over donations

AFTER weeks of turmoil over a political donations scandal, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will make a rare summer address to the nation today, before a key pension reform is presented to the cabinet tomorrow.

The furore over alleged cash handouts by France’s richest woman, L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, and her late husband, to conservative politicians has shaken Sarkozy and helped drive his approval rating to a record low.

Sarkozy is expected to try to quash the growing scandal today by attempting to steer attention back to pension reform, which is highly unpopular with voters and unions.