Former judge Eva Joly wins the top political humour prize
Eva Joly has carried off this year’s press club top award for the funniest political quip (voluntary and involuntary classes combined). The parliamentary member for Europe-Ecology, former investigating magistrate in the Elf affair, said: “I know Dominique Strauss-Kahn very well; I have cross-examined him.”
The Jury’s Special Mention went to Georges Fresche, President of Langedoc-Rousillon Regional council, for his strategic political analysis: “Only about 5 or 6 % are clever; my campaign targets stupid cunts.” Frédérick Mittérand won the Websurfers’ Prize for remarking: “When anyone calls me Monsieur le Ministre, I always feel that Jack Lang is going to pop out from behind me.” Also, to Lionel Luca, MP for Alpes-Maritimes for his aphorism: “You don’t have to be right wing or left wing to spout drivel.”, and to Claude Goasguen, MP for the UMP and mayor for Paris XVI district, for: “One thing’s clear: our understudies are not going to force us to get vaccinated against type A flu.” Disappointingly, two great favourites didn’t make the grade, Patrick Balkany for “I am the most honest man in the world”, and Rachida Dati: “I’ve never sought to thrust myself into the media spotlight.”
Prizes will be given out on Monday evening at the French Press Club by its president, Bernard de la Villardière, Isabelle Bourdet, director, and Jean Miot, jury foreman. The jury was composed of humourists, among them Laurent Gerra and Pierre Douglas, and of a diverse selection of journalists (Olivier Galzi, Gérard Leclerc, Anita Hausser, André Bercoff, Dominique de Montvalon, Thierry Guerrier, etc).
2009 winner was Bertrand Delanoë for: “Genuine change for the Socialist Party would involve winning.”
le Parisien