Sounds like it worked out perfectly.
Quite agree. Doesn't sound like much of an accident, either. Stupidity maybe...
Chirac will either fall over these riots, or will have to unleash Sarkozy even more, which will make Sarkozy even more obvious as Chirac's successor. France will alas probably never throw Chirac in prison, because he will retain his immunity by remaining in office until he dies. But France is coming around. I should say, part of France is coming around. The leftist sphincters will remain sphincters.