Diamonds Affair

The diamonds affair, known in France as "l'affaire des diamants", was a major political scandal in the 5th French Republic. In 1973, the Minister of Finance, future president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, was offered two diamonds from the President of the Central African Republic, the notorious dictator Jean-Bédel Bokassa. The affair was unveiled by the satiric newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné on October 10, 1979, towards the end of Giscard's presidency. It contributed to Giscard losing his 1981 reelection bid.

Diamonds Affair

The diamonds affair, known in France as "l'affaire des diamants", was a major political scandal in the 5th French Republic. In 1973, the Minister of Finance, future president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, was offered two diamonds from the President of the Central African Republic, the notorious dictator Jean-Bédel Bokassa. The affair was unveiled by the satiric newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné on October 10, 1979, towards the end of Giscard's presidency. It contributed to Giscard losing his 1981 reelection bid.