What’s French for Schadenfreude? (Villepin in Trouble)

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin is in a world of hurt as the “French Watergate” scandal known as Clearstream unfolds (complete timeline is also at link):

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin’s job was under threat Thursday as he stands accused of lying over claims he ordered a secret probe into his chief political rival Nicolas Sarkozy.

Villepin is also the clown who, when he at the UN, was essentially the “leader” of the group of nations, largely, as we now know, corrupted by Oil for Food Scandal money, that prevented the war in Iraq from being a UN-sanctioned operation, and who therefore forced the US to defend the world with its own coalition in Iraq.

Villepin’s most famous assignment as Chirac’s Foreign Minister was opposing the U.S. plan to invade Iraq, making France look like the leader in a coalition of countries such as Germany, Russia and China that opposed the invasion. The speech he gave to the United Nations to block a second resolution allowing the use of force against Saddam Hussein’s regime is regarded by some as an historic moment, receiving loud applause. Nevertheless, the impotency of France and its allies to halt the oncoming invasion has cast a shadow over Villepin’s “dove-like” image.

A former ally, the right-wing newspaper Le Figaro (Villepin is to the right of most French politicians, a sad commentary in and of itself) has branded him a liar.

Villepin possibly corrupt and lying? I’m shocked, just SHOCKED. You’ll have to excuse me, as my sympathy meter is low.