Conscious of the need to whip up some enthusiasm for France's imminent accession to the EU presidency, Nicolas Sarkozy has not neglected those closest to home.

All 577 MPs at the national assembly have received a gift from the Elysée Palace to mark the occasion. But what should have been a harmless PR exercise has turned into a blunder, alienating the assembly's 107 women and mystifying many others. Inside the little black case left in each MP's letterbox was some very tasteful stationery - pencil and notepad - a towel rail, and ... a pale grey tie. "Yet more proof of the male chauvinism reigning among the political class!" said one young female Socialist in Le Parisien.

Others decided to make the most of the offering. Yves Cochet, a former Green minister, was spotted trying to tie the knot around a female colleague's neck.

Nadine Morano, one of Sarkozy's most ardent supporters and a junior minister, stretched spin to the limit by declaring: "even for a woman, wearing a tie can be nice". One of her contemporaries was less diplomatic, describing the stunt as "completely crap".

Inscribed on the back of the black case were the words la fraternité européenne, quoting Hugo. "Is that Victor Hugo, or Hugo Boss?" asked one leftwing MP mischievously, ignoring the fact that the president of the republic has not been seen in designer sunglasses for months.

The gaffe may at least have played a small part in temporarily uniting the political left and right. MPs of all sides are hoping that when the Eiffel Tower is lit up in Europe's blue-gold colours on July 1, more thought will be put into the event.