French Language and Culture Articles

Dear Language Enthusiast,
 
Greetings from Transparent Language! Every so often we send out this free newsletter with topics of interest to French language enthusiasts. Since the introduction of the newsletter last year, we have received dozens of letters from readers with positive feedback and suggestions. We are delighted that the newsletter has been so well received, and are grateful for your insightful comments. Of all the suggestions readers have sent, perhaps the most common one is to offer our newsletter in both English and French. So, in response to your feedback, from this issue on we are proud to offer newsletters in both languages. We have first presented the following newsletter in French, followed immediately by the English translation. This will be a good tool for practicing your French skills.

This month's newsletter is about former Prime Minister Laurent Fabius and the two members of his cabinet who were accused of having failed to stop the distribution and use of tainted blood in France in 1985.
 
Sincerely,
Transparent Language
www.transparent.com

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En français:
 
Laurent Fabius exonér?dans l'affaire du sang contamin?Le 9 mars 1999, les juges de la Cour de Justice de la République ont rendu leur arrêt dans le procès du sang contamin?: relaxe de l'ancien Premier ministre, Laurent Fabius, et de son ministre des Affaires sociales, Georgina Dufoix, mais condamnation avec dispense de peine pour Edmond Herv? son secrétaire d'Etat ?la Sant?

Depuis plus de quinze ans on sait la grave menace posée par le SIDA. L'ancien Premier ministre et deux membres de son gouvernement étaient accusés de ne pas avoir pris les mesures nécessaires pour mettre fin ?la distribution et ?l'emploi de sang contamin? en France en 1985. Plus de 600 des 4000 hémophiles ayant reçu des transfusions de sang contamin?avec le virus du SIDA, sont morts. Cette affaire, qui a fortement scandalis? la France, a achev?un nombre de carrières de médecins, de scientifiques et d'administrateurs. Plusieurs administrateurs de banques du sang, ainsi que des conseillers des trois ministres ont ét?condamnés et trente-deux autres seront jugés prochainement. Le procès des trois ministres était une première. La Cour de Justice de la République, consistant en trois magistrats et de douze parlementaires, a ét?créée spécialement. C'était, en effet, la première fois dans l'histoire de la Cinquième République que des ministres étaient accusés de crimes commis dans l'exercice de leurs fonctions.

En outre, la France est un des seuls pays o?des ministres aient ét?tenus personnellement responsables de ne pas avoir tout mis en oeuvre pour permettre le dépistage du SIDA. Laurent Fabius, Premier ministre socialiste de 1984 jusqu'?1986, son Ministre des Affaires sociales Georgina Dufoix, et le secrétaire d'Etat ?la Sant? Edmond Herv?étaient accusés d'homicide involontaire. En cas de condamnation, ils risquaient des peines de prison de trois ?cinq ans.

Laurent Fabius exonerated in tainted blood affair On March 9, 1999, the judges of the special court announced their verdict in the tainted blood affair: acquittal for former prime minister, Laurent Fabius and for Georgina Dufoix, his Social Affairs minister, but a suspended sentence was handed down to Edmond Herv? his secretary of State for Health.

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In English:
 
It's been more than fifteen years since the AIDS virus was identified as a serious danger. The former Prime minister and two members of his cabinet were accused of having failed to stop the distribution and use of tainted blood in France in 1985. Approximately 600 of the 4,000 hemophiliacs who had received HIV-infected blood through transfusions died. This affair, a tremendous scandal in France, has ended many medical, scientific, and administrative careers. Several blood-bank officials and aides to the three ministers have been convicted and thirty-two more will be tried in the near future. This was an extremely monumental event. A special court consisting of three judges and twelve parliamentarians was created. This was the first time in the history of the Fifth Republic that ministers had been charged with crimes committed during a term of office.

In addition, France is one of the only countries where leaders have been held accountable for not actively stopping the spread of AIDS. Laurent Fabius, Socialist Prime Minister from 1984 to 1986, his Social Affairs Minister Georgina Dufoix, and the Secretary of State for Health Edmond Herv?were facing charges of manslaughter. If convicted, they could have faced prison sentences of three to five years.

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