Diamonds Affair

The diamonds affair, known in France as "l'affaire des diamants", was a major political scandal in the 5th French Republic. 
In 1973, the Minister of Finance, future president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, was offered two diamonds from the Emperor of the Central African Empire Bokassa I. The affair was revealed by satiric newspaper "Le Canard Enchaîné" on October 10, 1979, towards the end of Giscard's presidency.
Many believe this was the reason for Giscard losing his 1981 reelection bid.