Melodrama

Catherine Megret, the mayor of Vitrolles, France, was charged with racism for giving cash bonuses to new mothers in her town, but only when the mothers were French or from other European countries. Megret showed up for her trial dressed as Joan of Arc — in sackcloth, ready to be burned at the stake. Vitrolles has a large Arab population, which was not eligible for the 5,000-franc (US$700) bonuses. (Reuters) ...Well, if nothing else she’s figured out that politics is best when played like theater.