nuclear-news

Nuclear election issue in France: former AREVA chief exposed Sarkozy’s manipulations

“Atomic Anne” tries to nuke France’s Sarkozy, Apr 11, 2012   * Ex-CEO says Sarkozy tried to sell reactor to Gaddafi * Government says Lauvergeon’s account is “fiction” * Socialists question EDF boss’ future By Paul Taylor, PARIS, April 11 (Reuters) – Nuclear warfare has broken out between France’s two main political parties 11 days before the first round of a presidential election, with a woman known as “Atomic Anne” launching a strike on President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Anne Lauvergeon, a former top aide to Socialist President Francois
Mitterrand ousted as head of French nuclear group Areva last year,
accused Sarkozy of having tried to sell an atomic reactor to Libyan
leader Muammar Gaddafi until mid-2010.

“The state, which was supposed to be responsible, was supporting this
folly,” she told weekly magazine L’Express in an interview.
“”……..Sarkozy has visited nuclear sites to underline his support
for France’s atomic industry, posing for photographs surrounded by
nuclear workers in overalls and hard hats.

Lauvergeon, 52, tipped as a possible minister if Hollande wins next month’s runoff, told L’Express she had objected “vigorously” to Sarkozy’s drive to sell Gaddafi a reactor.

Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for 42 years, was overthrown and killed last
October by rebels backed by NATO air strikes in which France played a
leading role…….

The battle has taken on a political dimension with the Socialists
openly questioning the future of Henri Proglio, a close ally of
Sarkozy, as CEO of state-controlled electricity giant EDF if they win
the election…..

Lauvergeon said Sarkozy had made a string of errors, organising a
“clan” system in the nuclear sector, including the appointment of
Proglio.

“This system touted low-end nuclear abroad and proposed transferring
our global intellectual property rights to the Chinese and selling
nuclear in countries where it was not reasonable,” she told L’Express.
(Additional reporting by Emmanuel Jarry and Alexandria Sage; Writing
by Paul Taylor; editing by Janet McBride)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/11/france-election-nuclear-idUSL6E8FB2GE20120411

April 12, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, politics