I too am glad the manure has, at last, hit the fan. As soon as it spreads out of the ghettoes, Chirac will unlease Sarko (in my rather biased opinion). The problem with de Villepin is that he is a former diplomat and diplomats have that occupational belief that negotiation is always the solution...tragic flaw in this situation.
It is possible that de Villepin will have to step aside (he was appointed, after all, by Chirac) and Sarko will be elevated to the position of PM.