French politics could determine EADS leadership

French politics could determine the leadership of Hugo Chavez's military transport aircraft provider, EADS.

Partly owned by the French government, EADS is selling Chavez more than $1 billion worth of CN-235 and C-295 military cargo planes, over the strong objections of the United States.

EADS is trying to sell the same planes to the Pentagon as the new Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA).

EADS Chief Executive Noël Forgeard, a former advisor to French President Jacques Chirac, is embroiled in a scandal after he sold millions of dollars worth of EADS stock shortly before the share value tanked in March.

Chirac helped Forgeard become EADS executive.

Forgeard needs the backing of anti-US prime minister Dominique Villepin to stay at the helm of EADS, according to London's Daily Telegraph.