Commentary: Europe's Perilous Leadership Vacuum

Watergate. That's the loaded analogy many French use these days for their own metastasizing political scandal. President Jacques Chirac is accused of illegally accepting huge donations from public works contractors during his control of Paris city hall from 1977 to 1995. The allegations--which Chirac denies---are contained in a videotaped confession made by the Gaullist party's main bagman, Jean-Claude Mery, who died last year. The scandal could bring down prominent politicians from France's main parties.

It's a huge blow to the prestige of the French presidency. Yet curiously, ordinary French are reacting with a kind of weary cynicism. In that regard, they have begun to resemble Italian voters, resigned to incompetence and continuing corruption in high places. If such rot spreads throughout Europe, it will deeply affect how the French and other Europeans regard their leaders---and the political process itself. And that is cause for alarm.