Sarko Loses Bid to Block Voodoo Doll

French prez vows to sue if makers don't take doll off the shelves

(NEWSER) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy is demanding that a voodoo doll in his image be withdrawn from bookstores, the Daily Telegraph reports. The fuming Sarko has threatened a lawsuit if the French distributor does not comply. Some 20,000 of the dolls, which comes with pins and a voodoo guide, have already been produced. The firm has refused to follow orders from the litigious prez and vowed that other politicians would get the voodoo treatment if the Sarko dolls fly off the shelves. More»

Stab-able president a cult success in France

(NEWSER) - An appeals court in France essentially told the nation's president to lighten up today. The court rejected a bid by Nicolas Sarkozy to ban voodoo dolls made in his likeness, the International Herald Tribune reports. It ruled that the dolls can continue to be sold, only now they must have a red label declaring that poking the mini-Sarko constitutes an attack on his dignity. The court also awarded Sarkozy a token euro in damages and told the doll maker to pay $2,000 in legal fees. More»

(NEWSER) - In the latest demonstration of French employees refusing to take job losses sitting down, workers at a glue factory took 3 British execs and their French manager hostage last night, and released them today, the BBC reports. The “bossnappers” demanded a renegotiation of their severance package from Scapa, which plans to close the factory due to lack of demand for its product. Scapa makes adhesives for the auto industry. More»

Rival Royal refuses to accept outcome of contentious recount

(NEWSER) - Martine Aubry has edged out rival Ségolène Royal to become the leader of France’s Socialist Party, the BBC reports. A recount of last week’s vote, requested by Royal, actually widened Aubry’s winning margin. Royal, the party’s presidential candidate last year, said she would not accept confirmation of the vote by the national leadership, which leans against her. Aubry will be the first woman to lead the party. More»

Delanoë, ahead in opposition polls, says France is ready

(NEWSER) - The battle is on for the leadership of France's opposition Socialist Party, and a man who says the nation is ready for a gay president is the surprise leader, the Telegraph reports. Bertrand Delanoë, the popular mayor of Paris, is the early favorite, outpolling Ségolène Royal, who lost last year's election to Nicolas Sarkozy. More»