It's of course quite disgusting to blame the french (ie generalizing) instead of those who accepted the bribe nominatively.
Charles Pasque for instance has accepted bribes and is under judicial investigation for other matters as well (weapons deal with Angola; Falcone affair, etc (search in google). But he still profits from parliamentary immunity.
Pasqua was interior minister when the Airbus was highjacked in 1994; his most trusted ally (also involved in bribes) , Marchiani, helped in the release of the french hostages in Lebanon in the mid-80's.
They're praised for their positive role in the hostage but have been wheeling and dealing behind the curtains.
When I'm googling in their past involvments, it's always in french, that's why I'm not proposing links.

Raoul