French ministers forced to declare assets in 'great naming and shaming'

The French press called it , taken as the Great Revelation or the Great Naming and Shaming, depending on what side of the political fence you sat.

Yesterday was deadline day for French cabinet ministers to reveal their wealth and assets in an historic exercise following the shaming of a former minister who lied about having money in a secret Swiss bank account.

The result was embarrassment for a variety of reasons. Michele Delaunay, the minister for the elderly, was concerned that "ordinary French people" might find her wealth, estimated at €5.4 million (HK$54.8 million) - including €3 million in property, a €200,000 art collection and €15,000 in jewels plus €10,000 of watches - "difficult to understand".

On a different scale, housing minister Cecile Duflot, of the Green party, had already become the subject of internet derision after admitting she owns a 1999 Renault Twingo worth €1,500. Her party colleague, former presidential candidate Eva Joly, went even better, disclosing that she owns two kayaks which are "expensive because they're made of carbon".

Arnaud Montebourg, the minister for industrial renewal and pin-up boy for the "Made in France" campaign, was forced to admit he owns a €4,500 armchair from the celebrated American designer Charles Eames.

Having no ministerial post, Jean-Luc Melenchon, head of the Left Party, who had opposed the great confession, did not have to declare anything. However, he could not resist making an unofficial declaration of assets on his blog as the first of the ministers' declarations became known last week: "I'm 1.74 metres tall. I weigh 79kg. My shirt size is 41/42. My trouser size is 42, and I take a size 42 shoe. All my hair is my own and is not dyed," he wrote. He also admitted owning an apartment, a house, some savings and 12,000 books. But he added he had no horses.

Some of those wandering the corridors of power, however, were saying nothing.