Mocking Hayek with the Mexican exclamation 'Caramba!', it suggested that Mr Sarkozy's list of recipients was "another occasion to have fun". People reacted to it with everything from "surprise to anger". They included Henri Torre, the 78-year-old former minister and member of Mr Sarkozy's ruling UMP party, who turned down a Legion of Honour, saying: "Too many people were nominated who do not deserve to me honoured", adding that the awards had "lost their value".