Herve Gaymard

A protege of President Jacques Chirac, Gaymard first came under fire three weeks ago when the satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaine revealed that he, his wife and eight children were living in a $18,500-a-month duplex paid for by taxpayers.

Gaymard, 44, apparently was caught out by his contradictory statements on his housing situation.

He was quoted by Paris-Match magazine as saying he had taken the luxury flat because his humble background and limited means meant he did not possess any property.

But he was later forced to admit that he did, in fact, own a large four-bedroom apartment on Paris' Left Bank -- rented out for $3,050 a month.

Then on Feb. 25, the left-wing daily Liberation reported that Gaymard and his wife own several other properties in his native Savoie region and in western France. It said Gaymard pays France's wealth tax -- which applies to people with assets worth $950,400 or more.

The Japan Times Weekly: March 5, 2005
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