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MARCO WERMAN: President Obama's tough talk on executive compensation comes just after questions about ethics forced the withdrawal of Tom Daschle from consideration as Secretary of Health. The headlines were about Daschle's failure to pay taxes on perks like a car and driver. But Daschle also had financial ties to businesses he'd have to deal with as Health Secretary. Those ethical problems are not unique to Americans. In France, a new book alleges that the foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, has maintained unethical ties to some African leaders. The controversy centers around money some African countries owe Kouchner for consulting work he did before he joined the government. He denies any wrongdoing and is unlikely to lose his job. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

GERRY HADDEN: Before Kouchner became foreign minister in 2007, he worked for three years as a healthcare consultant, mainly in Africa. That's the period the new book focuses on. It's called “Life According To K” and was written by investigative journalist Pierre Pean. Pean alleges Kouchner was owed millions of dollars in fees by countries such as Gabon and Congo, and that after Kouchner joined Sarkozy's cabinet, he used his position to press for payment. Analysts say the book offers little proof to back the accusations of conflict of interest, but today opposition members of France's Parliament sought to hold Kouchner accountable. Socialist member of Parliament Jean Glavany told Kouchner that democracy demands transparency. He urged the foreign minister to explain himself in light of the allegations. Kouchner responded, saying he had done nothing wrong in his dealings with Africa prior to joining the government, or after. He said, “You all know – the French people know – what I have done. I've always been and will always be on the sides of the victims.” A book alleging wrongdoings by politicians is nothing new in France. And while everyone's talking about this latest publication today, interest will probably die out quickly, says political scientist Francoise Dreyfus. Dreyfus says the French attitude towards morality, whether it be about love or money, is more relaxed than that of Americans.

FRANCOISE DREYFUS: To make money is a good thing, but you have to make it in a correct way, in a virtuous way. Here, you know, and in Italy, it is the same. If you see that the people are voting for Berlusconi who is a crook, well it means that that's not really a problem.

HADDEN: That, she says, helps explain why in the US a Tom Daschle or Nancy Killefer can go down for not paying back taxes, while in France, she says, even politicians convicted of crimes often win re-election. And there's something else that helps French politicians defend themselves: France has very strict laws against libel. That's Bernard Kouchner's personal lawyer, Georges Kiejman, defending his client today. Kiejman is likely to see journalist Pean in court. He has already threatened to sue him. For The World, I'm Gerry Hadden.

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