We’re all familiar with the concept that politicians are different from us. Not only do they abrogate to themselves the right to run our lives, but they lie to do so. We may also rightly suspect them of corruption, or if that is too strong for you, of acting in their not our interests. Nothing very surprising in this, we can see it in their actions and it is well supported by economic theory, public choice theory for example, for which James Buchanan won the Nobel.
So full marks to the perfidious French for managing to take the idea a step further. Instead of waiting to be elected to indulge in a little rootling around in the basement of the Treasury, Charles Pasqua has just got himself elected in order to stop himself from being prosecuted for a previous episode of bribe-taking.

A former French government minister and friend of President Jacques Chirac has escaped prosecution on corruption charges by securing a parliamentary seat.
A French judge wants to interview Mr Pasqua in connection with four corruption investigations, including alleged money laundering to finance his Right-wing Rassemblement pour la France (RPF) political party and the illegal sale of arms to Angola in the late 1990s.

In the Anglo-Saxon version of democracy all are equal before the law. An MP, a minister, a Congressman or senator, if suspected of a crime, is questioned and if need be charged and prosecuted, in exactly the same manner as the average joe. In the Continental version (this extends way outside France and includes the European Parliament) being elected is a guarantee that one cannot be questioned on anything. Add in the use of proportional representation and party lists and we find that the way to avoid jail, to avoid even being questioned, is to bribe a political party to put you high on the list, so as to ensure that you get elected.
What a happy and free continent we seem to be building for ourselves.