Diplomatic war between France and Mexico

"Florence Cassez, an affair of state," announces Le Figaro in the wake of Mexico’s decision to cancel its participation in France’s “Year of Mexico” cultural programme. The crisis has been prompted by the case of Florence Cassez, a 36-year-old French woman who in April 2008 was sentenced to a 90-year jail term (later commuted to 60 years in 2009) for kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, and possession of firearms and ammunition. Paris, which has been demanding her transfer to a French prison for three years, recently took a harder line after her conviction was upheld by a Mexican appeal court on 10 February. "As it stands, the situation remains in deadlock," notes Le Figaro, adding that "trade between the two countries will likely suffer. The ‘Year of Mexico’ was supposed to promote commercial as well as cultural relations.”