Yet the78- year-old ex-paratrooper, who made it into the2002 presidential run-off against Jacques Chirac, still wields a baleful influence over the body politic.

• 可这个78岁的前伞兵，曾经在2002年总统大选与希拉克决斗的勒庞，仍就在单政府领导的国家中有着极大的杀伤力。