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Power and politics
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Marseille
has all the social, economic and political ills of France writ large. In addition, it has to contend with its notoriety for protection rackets and shoot-outs, corruption, drug-money laundering and prostitution. But the city's dangerous reputation is unfair - not because it's unfounded but because underworld activities flourish just as much, if not more, elsewhere on the CA?te d'Azur.
The career of Marseille's most famous politician has been more spectacular than any gangster activities. Millionaire businessman
Bernard Tapie
entered politics in the 1980s with the express intention of seeing off the neo-fascist Le Pen. He became a
dAŠputAŠ
and MEP, and even held a cabinet post. He bought the city's football team, delighting the Marseillais with its success, but a match-rigging scandal in 1993 led to Olympique de Marseille's relegation from the First Division and investigations into not just the team's finances but the whole of Tapie's financial empire. The subsequent lifting of his parliamentary immunity and charges of fraud and tax evasion did nothing to dent his appeal, however, and in 1994 seventy percent of the Bouches-du-RhA?ne electorate voted for him. He then survived bankruptcy proceedings, and was convicted of bribery, embezzlement and misuse of funds, but got off with suspended sentences and a brief spell in jail. While defending his last case he entered a new career, starring in a film by Claude Lelouch, and finally resigned from parliament in 1996, faced with lengthy appeals against ongoing litigation. OM is now back again at the top of the French football league, having returned to compete in Europe in the 1998-99 season. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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France,
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