TOILET TIME

The French are undoubtedly language snobs, seeing French as the language. As anyone who has visited France will know, it is not uncommon for English-fluent Frenchmen to refuse to speak in English or even acknowledge they understand when spoken to in English. It's therefore no surprise that a businessman's refusal to speak in French threw Jacques Chirac's nose right out of joint:

When M Seillière, who is an English-educated steel baron, started a presentation to all 25 EU leaders, President Chirac interrupted to ask why he was speaking in English. M Seillière explained: “I’m going to speak in English because that is the language of business.”

Without saying another word, President Chirac, who lived in the US as a student and speaks fluent English, walked out, followed by his Foreign, Finance and Europe ministers, leaving the 24 other European leaders stunned. They returned only after M Seilière had finished speaking.

Embarrassed French diplomats tried to explain away the walk-out, saying that their ministers all needed a toilet break at the same time.

Apparently French politicians, like women, prefer to use public toilets in packs.