French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin accused the left-wing opposition on Tuesday of stoking unfounded rumours in a dirty tricks scandal by calling for a parliamentary censure vote that it could not possibly win.
The prime minister came out of his corner swinging during a parliamentary debate, tearing into Socialist Party leader Francois Hollande and defending his government's record and plans for the remaining year before the presidential election.
The government's solid majority meant it was due to win the vote later on Tuesday, but deputies were keen to see if some conservatives would abstain to protest against the scandal that is sapping Villepin's authority and the right-wing's popularity.
"Why did you bring this censure motion today?" Villepin challenged Hollande in the debate. "In the name of slander, lies and rumour. Slander feeds slander, lies feed lies.
"Rumour is a beast one never wins control of."
In the so-called Clearstream scandal, Villepin has been accused of using French spies to try to smear Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, his rival to become the main conservative candidate in the presidential election. He denies the charge.