CHIEF EXECUTIVE NOEL FORGEARD SAID 500-600 HAD FOUND JOBS IN THE REGION OR AT OTHER PARTS OF THE EADS GROUP, WHICH OWNS TOULOUSE-BASED PLANEMAKER AIRBUS. THE OPPOSITION HAS ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF "GESTURE POLITICS" AND SAID ITS DECISION TO GRANT A KEY MAINTENANCE CONTRACT TO A PORTUGUESE FIRM HAD BADLY HIT THE FRENCH COMPANY. "IT WAS TOO GOOD AN OPPORTUNITY. PANNED IN THE POLLS, DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN THREW HIMSELF AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY THAT PRESENTED ITSELF TO CLIMB OUT OF THE CLEARSTREAM CESSPOOL," COMMENTED THE LEFT-WING DAILY LIBERATION. IT WAS REFERRING TO THE SO-CALLED CLEARSTREAM SCANDAL IN WHICH VILLEPIN IS SUSPECTED OF ORDERING FRENCH SPIES TO DIG UP DIRT ON INTERIOR MINISTER NICOLAS SARKOZY, A KEY RIVAL FOR NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION TO REPLACE PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC. IRONICALLY, THE AFFAIR HAS BEEN CLOSELY LINKED WITH EADS FROM THE START. FORMER INDUSTRY MINISTER JEAN-PIERRE CHEVENEMENT HAS SAID THE SCANDAL SPREAD OUT FROM AN INTERNAL POWER STRUGGLE WITHIN EADS ITSELF. THE COMPANY HAS ALSO MOVED TO SACK A TOP EXECUTIVE WHO ADMITTED LAST WEEK THAT HE WAS THE ORIGINAL SOURCE OF ANONYMOUS LETTERS THAT SPARKED THE AFFAIR. VILLEPIN DENIES ANY WRONGDOING, SAYING HE WAS DUTY BOUND TO HAVE ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION BY HIGH-LEVEL PUBLIC FIGURES INVESTIGATED.
