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$370,000 spent on Sarkozy's shower?

(Agencies)
2009-10-30 11:12

France's government on Wednesday denied a claim it spent nearly 250,000 euros (about $3620,000) to build a temporary shower for President Nicolas Sarkozy at a 2008 summit site.

The claim stemmed from a report by France's state auditors on the high price tag of France's six-month rotating presidency of the European Union last year. The state auditors' report has not yet been made public, though certain findings were leaked to French news outlets.

Rene Dosiere, a leftist parliamentarian, was quoted in French media as saying he saw the report and said it listed a shower for 245,772 euros ($362,415) set up temporarily at the glass-domed Grand Palais in July 2008.

Government spokesman Luc Chatel said that sum was not for a shower for Sarkozy, but for eight meeting rooms used by 43 leaders who attended a major summit that launched the Union for the Mediterranean. Sarkozy "can take his shower at the Elysee (Palace) or at his home," Chatel said.