For his part, Mr Chirac, who had been grooming Mr de Villepin as a presidential hopeful and has long distrusted Mr Sarkozy, would be loth to grant him the liberty he seeks.

ECONOMIST: French politics: Beyond saving? | The

Or it may be that politicians are too cowardly to address the subjects of greatest concern, or too distrusted to generate much interest when they do.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot