Majesty at King Sarko's Court

We joke about President Sarkozy taking himself for the king of France but today in a ceremony at the Elysée Palace he was addressed as "your majesty" to his face.

King Sarko must have thought for a second that Jacques Attali, his illustrious adviser, was taking the mickey when he decided to open his address with the words of  Anne-Robert Turgot, the finance minister in the reign of Louis XVI in the 1770s.

Handing over his grand reform plan to the President, Attali said:

I seek not that your Majesty adopt my principles without having examined them, but, when he will have understood their justice and necessity, I beg him to maintain their implementation with firmness, without letting himself be frightened by the clamour that is unavoidable."

This could have been a line straight out of a delicious book, published this week, which recounts life at the court of the Emperor Nicolas I as if it were the Versailles of Louis XIV. In Chronique du règne de Nicolas Ier, Patrick Rambaud, an eminent novelist, pulls off a tour de force with a pastiche in the voice of Saint-Simon, the chronicler of the Sun King's court. I'll come back in a minute to la Baronne d'Ati, la protégée, and to the haughty Empress Cécilia and the Cardinal de Guéant, the crafty royal chamberlain.

First le Marquis d'Attali and his palace audience:

Attali was being his usual bumptious self, comparing his scheme with Turgot's great liberalising reforms but he made his point. His ideas have already produced such a clamour that Sarko might well want to forget them. Paris Taxi drivers have just called a strike and the legal profession is up in arms. "The only thing to do with my report is to put it into action or on the shelf," Attali boldly advised his majesty.

It was hard to get away from the feeling of antique parody when Sarkozy responded to Attali in regal manner: "If some have been frightened by the content of your proposals, I find them rather reasonable on the whole."

But "our well-loved and serene sovereign," as Rambaud calls Nicolas I, then dismissed three big Attali proposals. The day's fashion for deference even seems to have infected Agence-France Presse. It reported Mr Sarkozy's reaction thus: "Only three proposals did not find grace in his eyes."

Sarko will not dismantle France's administrative division into départements (created after Turgot's boss was guillotined in the revolution); He will not end the regulation of pharmacies, which have enjoyed protection since the middle ages; He will not abandon the 'precaution principle'. This is the very recent rule, introduced under le roi Chirac, which requires the abandonment of any product or action if there is any possibility of risk to public health or the environment. Attali says that it stifles innovation.

Sarkozy said that France was deeply attached for historical reasons to its départements and its 36,000 local councils however much there is a technocratic argument for reform. And the chemists' should stay regulated for public health. Attali left saying that he felt that the monarch had been very positive. "He had a lot of courage and honesty to tell us the parts that he did not agree with."

It was another of those days when France's republican rule seemed far more regal than the ancient monarchy across the Channel. In his book, Patrick Rambaud makes the most of this in his chronicle of the first six months of Nicolas I, monarch of France's "Fifth Dynasty". He relates the exploits of a vain and choleric monarch whose "stature was so modest that he had, by all means available, to make himself taller." 

The court of aristocrats and retainers do not dare challenge the decisions of "our Splendid Sovereign" but they engage in fierce intrigue and flattery  as they strive for his favour.

The cast includes the Cardinal (Claude Guéant, chief of staff), "a brain in the form of a filing cabinet". The emperor's favourite is La Baronne d'Ati, (Rachida Dati, the Justice Minister). She is described as "a Moorish woman from the River Saône". François Fillon, the Prime Minister, is le duc de Sablé, who has "the humility of the devout and the dress of a shop assistant." le Chevalier (Henri) de Guaino, Sarko's ideas man and speech writer, is charged with "giving the soveign brilliance and learning which are venerated by all who have studied little."   

Rambaud takes us through familiar episodes such as the summer prosecution of le duc de Villepin, the emperor's rival,  his majesty's extraordinary "running in the American manner", the revolt of les miserables in la banlieue,  the visit of "The Bedouin of Tripoli" and the Empress's departure, as chronicled by the gazeteers. His tale ends before the emperor's new mistress (the Tuscan Songstress?) bursts onto the scene.

I'll close with Attali's lines in French to Sarkozy today, taken from Turgot [in picture].

"Je ne demande point à Votre Majesté d'adopter mes principes sans les avoir examinés mais, quand elle en aura reconnu la justice et la nécessité, je la supplie d'en maintenir l'exécution avec fermeté, sans se laisser effrayer par des clameurs qu'il est impossible d'éviter".

Comments

[dot king]

WOW - j'achète ce livre dès demain!

[Lily]

1. If all enjoyed their jobs as much as Charles apparently does, France would be out of trouble.

2. Just before reading the latest comments, I switched on Elmar Bernstein’s Motion picture soundtrack of “The Age of Innocence”.

3. What a joy to read this post with the perfect music match!

4. Vive le Royaume! Vive la France!

[Jorg Andersen]

It's amazing how reality mirrors fiction. I can't believe that Attali addressed Sarkozy as "your majesty". That's straight out of the French comedy circuit. And then the Rambaud book. You can't make this up, as they say.

[Daisy]

I get the feeling Mr. Bremer enjoyed writing this column! I hear a chuckle at the end of every line.

I regret that my french isn't good enough to read Rambaud's book. It sounds like a ripping yarn.

[Valentin]

" I can't believe that Attali addressed Sarkozy as "your majesty". "

It is unbelievable, if one takes it literally. If one reads the whole thing, one may realize that the point wasn't "your majesty", seriously or ironically, but the advice that the president should not bend to protests and conservatisms and apply the 300 measures fully and without compromise.

Of course, one may choose this interpretation.
Or one may say Attali, a convinced republican, member of the socialist party (albeit in its liberal half), and an intellectual monument, is actually addressing the president as "your majesty". Either he's serious, in which case we may wonder WHY did he not bend his knee, when handing over the precious report.
OR ! OR he openly mocked Sarkozy's kingly ways. What a humiliation - and in a most official setting! The slap was probably meant to make the brilliant report look more credible and pass easier. Or it was just a slap, and the report just a pretext! 'Cos how could ANYONE bear this clown of a president!
FRANCE WAKE UP !

[Valentin]

After so much noise about it, I was going to ask Charles for a post on the Attali report - a change from the continuous Sarko story.
I had the surprise of a pamphlet mirroring Rambaud's book (which Rambaud is well known for this kind of writings) and blending in royalty, Attali and everything else.

Btw in case anyone missed that:

news came that a French army led by Marechal Rondot has just crossed the Alps and is marching towards Rome, to liberate Italy from the republican mess.

[Joan Arles]

At least you can't say that French politics are boring. Where else does history and fantasy and power mix to make news in this way. Fantastic Charles, to see the link with the Rambaud version.

[YDrake]

Sarkozy seems to be Clinton, Blair and Berlusconi all rolled into one. Thank you for making this so clear.

[Dominique]

YDRAKE,

"Sarkozy seems to be Clinton, Blair and Berlusconi all rolled into one."

You forget the main ones : Louis XIV, Napoléon 1er, Napoléon III and...last but not least...Louis XVI?

[Marguerite.]

Attali pastichant le pasticheur de Saint Simon (Rambaud), il (Attali) a de l'humour .
C'est un tour de force d'ecrire tout un livre sur ce ton-la.Aussi difficile qu'une piece en alexandrins.
Est-ce qu'il est drole tout du long, ce bouquin ? est-ce qu'il n'est pas un peu lassant ?
En tous cas,votre blog, lui, est drole, M. Bremner.

[Daniel Strohl]

Valentin,

"news came that a French army led by Marechal Rondot ...

Please keep us informed, Valentin ! We know everything happening in Paris, thanks to the Times, but unfortunately we are not aware of what is happening at our frontiers ...

[Lily]

*** To be precise: I was listening to "Emperor Waltz..." :-)

[Pierre Bernardi]

Great writer, Patrick Rambaud. Read 'La Bataille'.

[Lise in Brittany]

Charles - your article is sheer delight!

[john o'doe]

Plus ça change!
For me it was just a Paris street name so I had to look up Turgot in Wikipedia. (By the way have you noticed how the French are as strong on their history as they are as ignorant on economics but that's another story). Anyhow what do I find? Way back then Anne Robert(crazy name, crazy guy) Turgot was fighting against trade restrictions, 'regimes spéciaux' and 'corporatismes'. He also had a thing about more efficient taxis. He upset too many vested interests, got the wrong side of Marie Antoinette and had to resign. His Majesty didn't accept his recommendations and was later guillotined.
History repeating itself?

[christopher muir]

Rambaud will have plenty of forthcoming material to extend this present work into a five year literary serial. Perhaps six more volumes will surface - think of Proust or Durrell; they wrote page upon page dissecting exotic characters. Unfortunately the final chapters, if written by Rambaud, may not provide a happy ending for satire-seeking readers (just a pessimistic hunch).

[Emlyn]

Another attack on Sarkozy for his small stature? Presumably Rambaud can measure himslef against a giraffe: "The high balls are on me,chaps!"

[Lily]

"His tale ends before the emperor's new mistress (the Tuscan Songstress?) bursts onto the scene." (CB)

The tale continues here:
http://hebdo.nouvelobs.com/hebdo/parution/p2255/dossier/a365160.html

(by Rambaud)

[stephen Bull]

With Attali, the bumptious, as you said, we should be careful that, if we must, we shoot the messenger but take the message on board

[stephen Bull]

With Attali, the bumptious, as you said, we should be careful that, if we must, we shoot the messenger but take the message on board

[thinknoworpaylater]

Turgot was talking to the king who was not elected (obviously). Sarko is in a different realm (largely imaginary of course) Jorg Andersen - Or as they say in Australian *You wouldnt read about it* - meaning it could never happen and be reported.

[Daniel Strohl]

Dominique,

"You forget the main ones"

LOL, Dominique, you have made a rather strange cocktail !

"and...last but not least...Louis XVI?"

There are a few potential Robespierre lying in wait for Sarkozy. However, for the moment, one can't see any one of them having the required guts AND the brains to succeed ... The guts is "le fonds qui manque le plus", in my opinion (with one exception however).

The opponents are very strong on critizing, but were rather evasive up to now with "workable and moral" alternatives; the adjectives are not from me ...

Therefore, a few prominent socialists - sorry, Pierre, I should have said "sociaux-démocrates" - are already trying to jump discreetly ("mine de rien" in French) on Attali's bandwagon sponsored by Sarkozy ... Funny !

[dot king]

"There are a few potential Robespierre lying in wait for Sarkozy." Daniel -

I thought Mr et Mme Juppé were looking a very serene and promising presidential couple last week when they appeared together on Le Grand Journal.
I never thought the day would dawn, but under the present circumstances, i have a distinct preference for Juppé.

Now I must go and inflict some (minor) form of punishment upon myself ;0

[John Gregory Flinn]

I thought what Attali was recommending sounded for the most part quite sensible for a socialist.

However, more importantly, the ideas are out in the open, and comparisons with the status quo will inevitably follow.
For example there was a bit about the role of the UK's 'Superdrug' on TV1 last week.

[Valentin]

Daniel :
"There are a few potential Robespierre lying in wait for Sarkozy."

Alas, Robespierre is too strong a name for them. The left is lacking leaders to such extent that almost every attempt at behaving like The Opposition lamentably ends in petty quarrels. Headless but with many tentacles, they try the other possible way : an avalanche of half truths, exaggerations and mockery, hoping the muddy waves do as much harm as possible.
Sarko's accused to show off, when he's always been voluntary, in movement, provocative, taking the scene. That's how he became minister, won the party, that's why he got elected: he moves, he dares speak out, he opens debates. All we get, was there already and well known.
He's said to keep a court, and no one looks over the pond, at how Bush is obeyed by those around him, how the Congress stands when he comes in and so on.
He's accused of abusing his power, when he's the one proposing measures to take this hidden power out in the open and limit it by laws.
Everybody agreed France needs radical reforms, in all domains; Sarko's been elected to turn the old order upside down, change mentalities, bring the country to the 21st century; now some mock him for his supposed "grandeur" and over-ambitious plans.
Well DUH ! That's exactly why he's there!

[isobel]

Question for John Gregory Flinn
What is the role of UK's Superdrug?

[Blendi Progri]

To me also it seems that CB really wrote this with a smile, and why shouldn’t he. LOL. Is not as if he was a Correspondent of Pravda, 30 years ago, and then re-called to USSR for re-education amongst the proletariat on the aluminium factory.

As it is previously mentioned, French Politics are never boring. During the previous Sarko Tv coverage (for few days was on all TV stations in UK also, a friend said ”it serves us right, for complaining that politicians are so dull”.

Compared to England is almost as two different planets. The best I can come up with this week is the “Interior Minister” Jacqui Smith, for saying : I cant walk at night on the streets of London/ they are unsafe” then her spin doctor told us all, that the minister (she has an escort, lol) went and bought a Kebab in Peckham (or should that be, in de–mean-streets of Peckham) and what France has…well, lets take B Kushner- for a start…a guy with many a story and huge experience at diff levels and fields.

It could be that isn’t the temperament, or the chosen persons (ministers) alone, but turbulent times play a role too, as changes in French history seem more pronounced and often turn-a-rounds are sharper. So the French history can easily produce more colourful personages in higher echelons of power.
-------------------------------------.
One can always rely on France for pomp and theatre. And Attali either intentionaly (or not) gave a good example. Only in Fr.

France has always produced many ministers that were statesmen in their own right.
Reading Zweig`s biography of Joseph Fouché ( S.Zweig) time ago, I couldn’t always believe that a character like him really existed. Living myself through extreme regimes and knowing how easy is for a man to fall or disappear in times of turbulent change, how little it takes for people great or small to `fall` based on a simple sentence alone, one wonders how can a person change so many systems and always remain `useful`. As master of intrigue and feared by many Fouche was unique.
But so was the master of diplomacy Talleyrand, the man who left no stone unturned to realize his ambitions, a man no stranger to lies, deceit or bribery, who wasn’t easy to second-guess in his intentions, so much so, that when he died, Metternich said, “I wonder what he meant by that?”
…only in Fr.

[christopher muir]

Thanks for the n.o. link, Lily. Pretty strong stuff which I doubt is being appreciated by members of the entourage.

[Pierre Bernardi]

Jérôme Kerviel

What's €4.9bn in the present mess? You're in the wrong job. You should have been trading sophisticated stuff.

Valentin, Valentin... are you still with us?

[john o'doe]

Humourless?
Attali's interview by Elkabbach on Europe 1 yesterday morning was an absolute classic.
http://www.europe1.fr/informations/chronique-t2.jsp?auteur=5&idboitier=792997#.
Among the juicy bits is the putdown for PS secretary François Hollande. Attali relates that he asked Hollande to contribute ideas for the report. Hollande, who is known for his humour, replied that he was busy with other matters but suggested that Attali send him a couple of propositions already prepared for the report and he, Hollande, the wit, would then send them back dressed up as his own ideas!
Probably resulting from the contrast he saw while working at the EBRD/BERD in London, Attali believes that French society, fearing the future, is not sufficiently 'gai' and that this is another factor slowing economic growth. He's probably right but at least there are some comics around, like Canteloup, Rambaud and Hollande and now the boss of SocGen to keep us entertained.

[dot king]

Re the "Robespierre" comments - I think Sarkozy's greatest dangers are in his own camp - he's an increasing embarrassment to all but a sycophantic few - or so it would seem from the amount of langue de bois displayed whenever questions are raised.

[John Gregory Flinn]

ISOBEL -
'Superdrug' markets and sells competitively priced medicines (and other stuff) that do not need a Doctors' prescription ('ordonnance') in the UK.
Restrictions and the monopoly on the sale of such quasi pharmaceutical medications were lifted in Britain some years ago, and 'Superdrug' led the the retail 'rush' into this sector.

[Daniel Strohl]

Dot,

Re : your post dated 25.1.2008 – 09:54

For me, he is not at all an embarassment, as long as he continues to apply his programme, which is badly needed. His political opponents, who did also know the situation and the remedies, didn't dare to tell the truth in fear to lose the elections. They made a big mistake; a majority of the electors were no more as dumb and gullible as they were supposed to (still) be after the brainwashing they were submitted to (« you are the best – we are the best - l'exception française») since many years not to say decades;of course not only through the left - the right had got in the past also some distinguished specialists, trained in the same schools.

Regarding Sarkozy's private life, it is good food for the journalists - however, they are beginning to overfeed us with it. It will sooner or later turn into reader's indigestion – at least, I hope so ...

If you have some questions to me (as a "sycophant"), please feel free. I can assure you that you will get a (of course) polite answer, but without any "langue de bois" whatsoever.

John O'Doe,

Re : your comment dated 25.1.2008 – 10:11

John, your comment is interesting and definitely not humourless ! However, to avoid any misunderstanding by bloggers not fluent in French, « gai » means happy, merry, cheerful and has no sexual connotation whatsoever. The word « gay » is also used in French, but the correct translation is « homosexuel ».

May be that some bloggers would be interested to know the correct translation of « AC/DC » - it is a periphrasis : être à voile et à vapeur (sail & steam).

PS : Attali has a point. People are rather often pessimistic and sad (ils font la gueule en permanence). This was not so 50 years ago – it was not uncommon to have people singing at work – of course and already at that time, not at the Société Générale ...

[dot king]

"If you have some questions to me (as a "sycophant"), please feel free. I can assure you that you will get a (of course) polite answer, but without any "langue de bois" whatsoever."
oh Daniel, we do get at cross-purposes, you and I - of course I didn't mean you, I meant some of the people I see and/or hear interviewed, eg UMP spokesman Jégo (I hope I've got the name right).
I wouldn't dare call you "sycophant" I've heard you have a dangerous gang and would come looking for me and beat me with your wooden tongues! :) (note the smiley)

Re gay, remember anyone? In the Beginning it was an acronym: G A Y = Good As You. Didn't it start in Greenwich Village NY?

[Daniel Strohl]

Dot,

I simply wanted to make it clear that I have some convictions which have not changed, malgré le feu roulant de critiques sur le blog et dans les journaux ...

My principle is to judge people (and of course politicians) basing on their results and not on their words. In economics, results are not immediate. In the case of Sarkozy, almost everybody is critizising him because he is not able to increase wages on the spot.

In the case of the French economy, we start from very low ("les caisses sont vides", said Mr.Fillon). - If the left would have been in power instead of the right during the past years, les caisses seraient pour le moins aussi vides, parce que le pays vit au-dessus de ses moyens depuis bien trop longtemps et que personne, avant Sarkozy, n'a osé le dire et encore moins prendre des mesures adéquates forcément douloureuses et impopulaires.

PS : mon gang est à la retraite, lui aussi - LOL ! Ce n'est pas le gang des postiches, de fameuse (et fâcheuse) mémoire, mais le gang des papys ...

[dot king]

Daniel, Mr Sarkozy should count himself lucky to have supporters such as yourself. I'm sure your eye is critical as well as supportive. and the day he does or says something I reckon he should congratulated on, I promise I'll be among the first. I'll do it here, just for you. :)
I too have my convictions, I see the millions of € disappearing and the closure of factories, and people who work who have nowhere to live. I know nothing of economics, but I recognise social injustice and despair when they jump up and bop me on the nose.

My original comment, however, was much more superficial - I had seen les Juppé on Le Grand Journal, looking, well, quite presidential and reliable really - and if it's results that count, then go look at Bordeaux, une très belle ville totalement remise en valeur.
I had also seen Jégo and others close to Sarkozy almost pretending they didn't even know who Carla Bruni was and that nobody was interested in the president's private life and that les sondages ne veulent rien dire (which is quite possibly true, but they are a daily media benchmark).
Enfin bref, what i meant was that there are quite a few people in the Hallowed Inner Circle who are looking quite "posé" and could be just biding their time, waiting for the president to foul up pour de bon.
Son style bling bling et knee-jerk, selon mon interpretation de ce que je vois et entends, dérange certains et pourra servir les intérêts d'autres.

This morning I was listening to "la rue des entrepreneurs" on France Inter 9-10am and there was an organiser of "salons", which in English we would call Shows or Exhibitions (eg The Boat Show, The Motor Show etc) and this person was saying that while France had the structures necessary to put on these salons, the infrastructures that make them accessible aren't in place. I don't know the Paris region that well, but he said, for eg, that if a visitor to a salon had trouble getting from Orly to Roissy (I think he was talking about an Air Show - as in things that fly :)) by either taxi, public transport, or by congested roads, then that visitor or family of visitors, might come once, possibly twice, but wouldn't want the hassle a third time.
His point was very blunt: "En France nous ne savons pas travailler en équipe." (I quote that with confidence as it was very striking.)
He went on to say that the structures and infrastructures for such salons were appearing all over the world, including in developing countries (he cited India and China) in addition to the competition within the EU, and that France was in danger of falling behind in the race - these salons being important showplaces for (especially) exportable industry.

Well, there we are, just thought I'd mention it - at least I know Daniel's gang won't come looking for me . . .

[Roger Goodacre]

further to Daniel Strohl's comments on the ludicrous expectations of those who demand an immediate improvement in their pouvoir d'achat, I was interested to hear Daniel Cohen - a left-aligned French economist who supported Ségolène Royal's campaign - interviewed this week on France Inter radio, state that pretty well all economists now accept that the healthy economic situations enjoyed by Clinton and Blair were due to the major reforms pushed through by Reagan and Thatcher ten years earlier.

So if Sarko sticks to his promises and forces through some fundamental change, any aspiring Socialist president would be best advised to time his/her run for around 2017, when he or she will be able to claim all the kudos (à la Gordon Brown, who of course is blaming 'global events' now that things in the UK are starting to look less rosy).

[Daniel Strohl]

@Dot,

I appreciate also Juppé (unfortunately, I have never seen his wife on TV). He has a brilliant mind, he is courageous, but as a Premier Ministre, he made the "mistake" to try to reform "les régimes spéciaux " when it was still too early - may be he was not "diplomate" (or demagogue ...) enough also. After him, we had Jospin, who is an honest gentleman too, but who did not make the needed reforms either - for instance "les retraites" - at that time, the "nanny state" (thanks, Azloon, for the vocabulary) was still in full bloom, on the left and on the right as well.

Dot, for your information : Roissy Airport is in the NE of Paris. Close to it is the big exhibition centre of Villepinte. Also not too far from there is the rather small and older "aéroport du Bourget", where there is "un salon de l'aéronautique et de l'espace" every year - somewhat like Farnborough (where however I have never been).

Orly, the other major Parisian airport, lies in the south of Paris. There is also an exhibition center not too far from it (Porte de Versailles).

However, for a passenger landing in Orly and heading for an exhibition in Villepinte, things are not easy (or were not easy 15 years ago, the last time I was in Paris). May be there is now a direct and fast RER/métro connection between Orly and Roissy - I don't know. Pierre knows that for sure ...

@Roger,

I also know an economist called Cohen, who appears often on TV in "C dans l'air". He has a brilliant mind and he manages to explain complex things in an easy to understand manner. However, I don't recall his first name.

If he is "the Cohen" of Mme Royal, the lady should follow his advice. Economics is a complex matter. And good economics are better than (even good) ideology ...

[Daniel Strohl]

Roger,

I think (but I am not totally sure) that the first name of the Cohen of "C dans l'air" is Elie, and not Daniel. Sorry for the mistake(s).

[dot king]

Daniel, yes, I watch "c dans l'air" too, i confirm that it is Elie Cohen, plump grey-haired, glasses, professor of economics.

[Pierre Bernardi]

Daniel, you would have thought it would make sense to connect Orly to the Réseau Express Régional (RER) line B, which serves Paris and Roissy. But on this occasion central planning gave us Orlyval instead, a light railway terminating at Antony, where passengers change for the RER.

[Daniel Strohl]

Dot,

Ok - your description fits - thanks !

Pierre,

Meanwhile, I had a look at the RATP site (I should have done this in the first place, of course). The map is self-explaining.

[dot king]

Pierre, Daniel, whilst you're looking at the RER RATP maps etc - don't go to too much trouble - when I come to Paris later in the year, it won't be for an Air Show!

Did you overlook my main point about a Frenchman having said on the radio that "En France on ne sait pas travailler en équipe" ?
Between you, you're proving him wrong, ou je me trompe? ;0

[Daniel Strohl]

Dot,

"Between you, you're proving him wrong"

All depends upon people - some are able (and willing) to work together, some not.

[Pierre Bernardi]

Dorothy, blogging counts as work? Oh oh! I'm going to have to watch what I tell the Assedic!

[dot king]

"Dorothy, blogging counts as work? Oh oh! I'm going to have to watch what I tell the Assedic"
(Pierre bernardi)

what on earth do you mean - where have i said blogging counts as work?