"Cash woes force wine auction in France" by Steven Erlanger | NY Times Syndication, May 01, 2013
PARIS — The dreaded phantasm of economic austerity has finally knocked its bony fingers on the door of the Elysee Palace, which announced Tuesday that it would auction off 1,200 bottles of its finest wines, renew its cellar with ‘‘more modest’’ vintages, and return the surplus to the state budget.
I'm ready for a drink when the elite pres$$ start off with that witty, condescending style.
President Francois Hollande, a Socialist who was elected a year ago, has made a point of trying to be a ‘‘normal president’’ and contrast his simpler style with the ‘‘bling bling’’ image of his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy. He has trimmed the presidential and ministerial fleet of cars, pushing for smaller hybrids, and has cut ministerial salaries.
Didn't seem to matter because he is the most hated president since Pierre Laval.
The wine cellars of the Elysee are rightly famous for showcasing the best of French wines, however, and although Hollande has offered guests a knowledgeably chosen selection of more modest wines, selling some of the older stock is a bit like selling grandmother’s silver....
Given the size of the deficit, this auction represents just drops in the bucket — highly exclusive drops....
Drink it 'til the last one!
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Related:
"The auction is expected to fetch $325,000. The funds will be invested in more modest wines, for entertaining without drawing on public resources at a time of cost-cutting."
From what I read the airlines bought it up.
So it's not even being used for deficit reduction or services, just to buy cheaper wine?
From California?!?!
Sacre bleu!
