Diamonds Affair

The diamonds affair, known in France as "l'affaire des diamants", was a major political scandal in the 5th French Republic. In 1973, the then Minister of Finance, president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing was offered two diamonds from the Emperor of the Central African Empire, the notorious dictator Bokassa I. The affair was unveiled by the satiric newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné on October 10, 1979, towards the end of Giscard's presidency. It contributed to Giscard losing his 1981 reelection bid.

References

• Titley, Brian (2002-02-22). "10: Operation Revenge". Dark Age: The Political Odyssey of Emperor Bokassa. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. pp. 136–151. ISBN 978-0-7735-2418-7. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
• Dowell, William (18 November 1980). "Le Monde raises government hackles with diamond scandal questions". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
• Reuters (11 March 1981). "France's President Says He Sold Bokassa Jewels". The New York Times. p. 3. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
• AP (18 March 1981). "Giscard Accused Anew On African Diamonds". The New York Times. p. 4. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
• Dupin, Eric (2001). "La Corruption Politique". French Politics, Culture and Society (in French). 19.