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Google hasn't been paying enough campaign contributions in France it seems. Back in the day Microsoft tried to avoid politics, and the US government almost broke them up.

"You may have all the money, Raymond, but I have all the men with guns." (Frank Underwood, House of Cards)

Looks like you're going to have to start paying more attention to the wallets of those with all the guns Google.

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> Google hasn't been paying enough campaign contributions in France it seems.

That's by design: Campaign contributions are heavily regulated in France: http://www.loc.gov/law/help/campaign-finance/france.php

Without knowing much about french politicians I'd wager the guess that they receive the same amount of contributions as their colleagues in every other country, just through less public channels.

I'd wager they get more.

It's more a party thing, usually (the conservative party has been embroiled in a series of scandals concerning the last presidential elections, and the one before).

Such as well paid executive jobs when they leave politics.

Sure, and there are no other way of influencing politics

But if someone happens to have a fancy "Cave à Vin", or a week end in Monaco, it's a coincidence

Or a very cheap but large appartment in a nice neighbourhood.

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