Sarkozy, the Cécilia version

Keeping up with the Sarko saga has become a full-time job this week, blotting out lesser events. With the dust settling after Tuesday's Elysée show, here's an update on the two strands, the high-minded and the soap opera, which gets more lurid by the day.

Sarkozy has made a bit of a fool of himself by claiming that he was misunderstood and back-tracking on some of his shock announcements, such as the end of the 35-hour work week. But first the soap opera, which is what the people want, according to Sarkozy. .

For yesterday's episode, in which Carla Bruni, his new paramour, has allegedly moved into the Elysée and upset the Prime Minister, read here. In today's episode, Cécilia, the ex-wife, has shot back onto the stage with a book in which she demolishes the head of state as a mean-spirited womanizer who has been behaving in a reckless and unseemly way since she left him in October.

"Nicolas est un sauteur ," Cécilia tells Anna Bitton, the author, a journalist on Le Point magazine who is, or more likely was, a close friend. "Nicolas is miserly... a man who loves no-one, not even his children...He has a ridiculous side. He is not worthy. He doesn't behave like the president of the republic. He has a real behaviour problem."
   
As I write, Cécilia's lawyers are in the Palais de Justice trying to get an order banning publication of Bitton's book, called Cécilia. But the extracts are out in news magazines and on the air and Bitton says she cannot understand why her friend suddenly wants it blocked. The last time that the former Mrs Sarkozy told her story to a journalist for a book, Sarko stepped in to halt publication. That was just after she returned to him in 2005 after her 10-month absence with Richard Attias, an events-organiser.

Bitton's book confirms that Cécilia left Nicolas in October in order to return to Attias. "Richard is the person whom I have loved the most in my life. I do not think that I ever loved before him," the former first lady is quoted as saying. But Attias will not have her back yet because he does not trust her. And so on.... Two other Cécilia books have appeared this week, but neither gives her version like Bitton's.

This apparent settling of accounts by the ex-wife balances the picture of Sarko the abandoned husband and it is being greeted as fair game for a president who decided to break with decorum and flaunt his love life to the nation. The obvious backlash against his exhibitionism is starting to be felt. Jean-Marie Rouart, a member of the Académie Française, warns him in today's Sarko-friendly Paris Match to be careful of "mixing genres".  "When you are president... the idea of private life does not exist. The president must give himself entirely to his office," he said.

The president's fans are congratulating him for a visionary performance on Monday, when he outlined his plans for achieving a new "Renaissance" in France. Le Figaro gushed that Sarko had set course for a French version of  President Kennedy's New Frontier. 

But his new "policy of civilisation", a doctrine invented by Edgar Morin, a leftwing philosopher, is more widely seen as an attempt to change the subject after failing to achieve the promised bounce that his election was supposed to give the economy. Le Monde attacked Sarko coming up with a new vehicle for his "magical thinking".

Sarko's -- or at least Morin's -- idea is to focus on national well-being rather than wealth, or quality and not quantity. Everything in government is connected, Sarko argued, borrowing from Tony Blair's old doctrine of "joined-up government". Blair is, by the way, turning up on Saturday to offer advice as as a guest at a conference held by Sarkozy's UMP party.   

Sarkozy has muddied the picture by claiming he was misunderstood when he said he aimed to scrap the 35-hour working week this year.

His fondness for sweeping proclamations has also landed him in trouble with the broadcasting world. His scheme for ending advertising on state television is deemed unworkable and a gift to his friends who own the main commercial stations. His out-of-the-blue announcement of an end to the English language service of France 24 has been greeted with dismay. Bernard Kouchner, the Foreign Minister, said he disagreed and Sarkozy's staff have started watering down the idea, calling it merely a proposal (Thank you to the France 24 staffer who commented on the last post).

François Hollande, the Socialist leader, has been busy attacking Sarko today as a would-be Louis XIV, who confuses the state with his own person.  "President Show-off makes us all voyeurs whether citizens, state officials or journalists," he said. . 

I can hear people saying 'Enough Sarko'. I promise other ground next time.

Comments

[azloon]

re: 'enough sarko' -- your remark

CB, if your were covering a war, would you suddenly stop filing stories because you thought you were boring readers, or they had heard enough?

the sarkodrama is a culture war within france. you are a war correspondant. for those outside france, and not fluent in french, you're "it." don't abandon us.

i suspect your apologies are cosmetic, and we don't have to worry that you've given up on this ongoing saga. :)

[Valentin]

CB : "...by claiming that he was misunderstood and back-tracking on some of his shock announcements, such as the end of the 35-hour work week"

Come on Charles, I hate to be pernickety and be qualified as a Sarko diehard again, but you were there, you must have heard the question as we did, "la fin, du moins réelle, des 35 heures".
La question ne concernait pas la durée légale du travail, mais l'application des 35 heures.

[qwerty]

Full of contradictions, Cecilia (love him, love him not). Nicolas too... Alain Minc finds him "extraordinairement complexe", like his predecessors. But what's in complexity? The following:

"ANOTHER STARTLING CONCLUSION FROM the science of consciousness is that the intuitive feeling we have that there's an executive "I" that sits in a control room of our brain, scanning the screens of the senses and pushing the buttons of the muscles, is an illusion. Consciousness turns out to consist of a maelstrom of events distributed across the brain. These events compete for attention, and as one process outshouts the others, the brain rationalizes the outcome after the fact and concocts the impression that a single self was in charge all along. (...) Our authorship of voluntary actions can also be an illusion, the result of noticing a correlation between what we decide and how our bodies move." On est peu de chose.

Am I somewhat off-track, off-tune, hors sujet?

[Daniel Strohl]

Charles,

"I promise other ground next time".

We look forward to that - thanks in advance.

[dot king]

He is playing everyone for a fool - at least everyone who voted for him and still believes in him.

[dot king]

Daniel, aren't you feeling at least a little let down by this gangster/president? Do you still have faith in him? Can you still take him seriously?
This isn't a "défi" - I know you have stated yourself to be a supporter, I wonder if any of this "unseemly" and unreliable display has made you think again.
You wanted renewal and a firm political advance, do you feel you're getting it?
How can we know if anything's going on besides this eternal mating dance?
What's more worrying is if there is anything going on,what can it be, and why aren't we informed?

[Daisy]

And now Hugo Chavez steals his thunder! Wasn't Sarko going to rescue the FARC hostages?

Any bets on how long before Carla dumps him? I think it could happen right about the time her next CD comes out.

[QCD]

Dorothy, as little going on as possible. That's the point. France needs to save costs.

[Helen]

"Nicolas is miserly... a man who loves no-one, not even his children"

Ow, that's gotta hurt.

[Donald]

CB: “This apparent settling of accounts by the ex-wife balances the picture of Sarko the abandoned husband and it is being greeted as fair game for a president who decided to break with decorum and flaunt his love life to the nation.” I don’t understand this point of view. Sarkozy wanted to stay in the marriage and present to the nation a wholesome family life which he likened to the Kennedy saga. He tried everything to keep the family together, including giving Cecilia the undeserved heroine role in freeing the hostages in Libya. It was Cecilia who immediately ran to the press after the divorce, not Sarkozy, to air dirty linen. And she did this BEFORE he started to flaunt his relationship with Bruni. I think that what happens in a marriage should be out of bounds for any ex-spouse to denigrate. In the end, history shows that everyone will lose if a certain sense of decorum in not observed in relationships. Cecilia chose, for good or bad reasons, to leave the marriage. That gives Sarkozy every right to play the bachelor if he chooses. Cecilia has no more claim on him.

CB: “Cécilia tells Anna Bitton, the author, a journalist on Le Point magazine who is, or more likely was, a close friend. "Nicolas is miserly... a man who loves no-one, not even his children...He has a ridiculous side. He is not worthy. He doesn't behave like the president of the republic. He has a real behaviour problem."”

No one seems to mention or care that she is demeaning, on the world stage, the father of her child. Children talk, they know what’s going on and children (her son’s classmates) can be very cruel. Their son can take some pride in his father dating a glamorous supermodel, but what can he do when he reads that his own mother has said his father doesn’t love him? No child wants the arguments of his parents to be known in front of the whole world. Does anyone care that Cecilia is creating an environment for her son where there will be no place for him to hide from the embarrassment and pain? I am appalled by this woman’s behavior. There is nothing more intimate than marriage, and therefore nothing more hurtful than a former spouse’s remarks about the marriage splashed all over the media, especially when children are concerned. It is one thing to go out with a supermodel, it is a totally different thing to have your own mother say, for all the world to hear, that your father doesn’t love you. Can there be anything more hurtful than that?

Charles, I hope you cover all the French news, whatever it may be. If Sarkozy’s relationships becomes the de facto news, which it most certainly is, then you should not have to apologize for doing so, in my opinion. Keep up the good work! I am interested in what is going on in France including what pre-occupies the French, whatever that may be, and if this is what the French are concerned about, I want to know that. Thanks.

[Rocket]

Ah the rumor mill!

read the below first in French

http://www.liberation.fr/actualite/politiques/303000.FR.php

I find what is going on with this continuing saga totally revealing of a deeper French mentality that has been underground for centuries and that is the love of "commerages" (gossip). Add to that hearsay, rumors and slander and another famous French identity trait of "discretion" bites the dust.

(see Outreau)

Once it has become politically correct to engage in the above stated qualities we see that the famous French exception about being above the fray on which people in this country are nursed from cradle to grave dissipates like like an ice cube in a 3 alarm fire.

A friend once told me about a couple who during one summer every night made love with their windows open in an apartment block. Apparently ,no one had the courage to tell them to shut up until a few weeks after one brave soul screamed at them to shut up and close their window. At that precise moment she said, everyone in the block took courage and leveled an unending barrage of screaming and insults at this couple. They did finally close their window.

Individual traits of discretion through fear of this order apply to relations with your neighbors as they do to power politics.

Let's hope the French continue to take courage without the "hearsay"

France and the French are no different than any other nation's people in the world. No better or no worse. It's time they stop thinking they were above the rest. It may add that 1 point of growth to GNP that Sarkozy "voulait aller chercher" but yet seems so elusive.

[Daniel Strohl]

Donald,

I agree totally with what you say above.

My opinion is that within a short time, Cecilia will be forgotten, and first of all by the media. They will no doubt find other subjects, hopefully more important and interesting.

[Robert Marchenoir]

Any aviation news lately?

[Daniel Strohl]

Dot King,

"What's more worrying is if there is anything going on,what can it be, and why aren't we informed?

Extrapolating from some of your posts, I suppose that the type of information which you are anxious to get is mainly not to say solely of strictly private and possibly very intimate nature, which is none of your business (nor of mine, of course).

As a foreigner making your living here with state subsidies, you should keep "une certaine réserve" (normally a typical British attitude which I appreciate).

You don't like Mr.Sarkozy - that is of course your good right - but that does not entitle you to call him "gangster/president".

You do not behave like a guest in our country. This behaviour is not coherent with the education you have got (Bac + 5 or equivalent as we were duly told).

Hereafter a quote from Rabelais, which you may or should think over - unless of course you already know it : "Science sans conscience n'est que ruine de l'âme".

PS : you asked me a question - do you still have faith in him ? Yes, I do. He is courageous, he is smart (sorry, clever - in British English) - I would even say very smart - this was very apparent during the press conference. And the socialist competition is no match for him. We can't afford any more only brilliant theories, with no action other than spending not yet earned money, and meanwhile enjoying the "35 heures".

[dada]

a whale should not be killed.
why?

[azloon]

Donald

hear, hear !! :)

we are in complete agreement concerning CB's excellent sense of what constitutes news in present-day france.

it obviously doesn't suit those eurosnobs who are used to the old days of chirac and mitterand. it apparently offends their senses. but those days are long gone.

i am in absolute agreement with you about cecilia's 'creepy' comments about sarko as a father. incroyable et inexcusible. she's a sociopath in my opinion, and narcissistic in the extreme. and i am afraid i see a little of her in carla.

the problem here is that sarko picked these women, revealing, imo, a real character defect. rather than jumping into a new relationship, he probably should have jumped onto a therapist's couch. he'll keep doing this self-destructive behavior until he is a 'bloody pulp.' sad for an otherwise fairly capable fellow. (it's truly astounding what some men will do to get laid).

is anyone in france outraged about cecilia's comments about sarko as father? does this pass as accceptable behavior in france? france may need an 'oprah' or a 'doctor phil' to publicly excoriate cecilia for her pathological behavior.

it's child abuse, even if the children are nominally adults.

[zyclop]

quote:
POSTED by: Donald | 10 Jan 2008 20:24:19
===================================
I totally and heartfelt agree !!!
===================================

[Aurelie Otis]

It is clear that it is Cecilia who does not love her 10 year old son. By making that statement to a reporter she has set up her own son to be miserable all his life because according to her his father does not love him. This little boy will need psychiatric treatment all his life.

Cecilia, please keep your private past life with NICOLAS SARKOZY locked up in your brain and do not discuss it with reporters and book writers.

Other comments/information about President SARKOZY are equally damaging. Even if this information is true, do not share it with anyone ever !! He is the father of your son. You will be a better woman by keeping silent.

[isobel]

Daniel Strohl - your last post gives the impression that Dot should "put up or shut up" because she has a state subsidised job. I don't know if you intended it but frankly your post sounds as if you are threatening her.The "certain reserve" you admire in British behaviour is also coupled with the belief in free speech.
Happy new year everyone!

[Daniel Strohl]

Azloon,

"Is anyone in france outraged about cecilia's comments about sarko as father? does this pass as accceptable behavior in france?"

1. Yes, I am outraged, and I am most probably not alone to be outraged.
2. No, it does not pass as acceptable behaviour in France, at least in my generation.
3. "even if the children are nominally adults" - Azloon, they have also an eleven year old boy - as far as I heard, he lives in the US. Let us hope that he is somewhat shielded over there.

Rocket,

"is the love of "commerages" (gossip)".

If one judges basing on comments on this blog, this "quality" is also hold by a given percentage of Anglo-Saxons. May be this percentage is somewhat higher in France, but who knows ?

[Maggie G]

Daniel, I think you were a little harsh with Dot.

When she said, "What's more worrying is if there is anything going on,what can it be, and why aren't we informed?", I'm pretty sure she was referring to action on the political front, because just before that she said "besides this eternal mating dance".

Maybe you read it a little too fast.

"How can we know if anything's going on besides this eternal mating dance?
What's more worrying is if there is anything going on,what can it be, and why aren't we informed?"

[Maggie G]

I am not taking sides with Cecilia. I agreed with what Donald said both this time and the last time, at least as far as his analysis of Sarkozy's behaviour.

But just to be fair, I would like to point out that I read the two interviews Cecelia gave in October, and she didn't actually say anything nasty about Sarkozy at that time. I got the impression that she had been badly stung by all the critical press she got in the Libian affair, the George Bush barbecue affair etc and wanted mainly to defend herself, to give her explanation of those stories. She actually said some fairly nice things about Sarko at that time, such as him being a maestro, if I remember correctly.

This time she has said some pretty serious stuff against him, but as Charles pointed out, her lawyers are now trying to stop the publication of the book, so it is pretty clear she regrets what she said. Maybe the journalist gained her confidence and got her to say more than she intended to say, or, if the journalist was a personal friend, maybe Cecilia thought that certain things she had said were "off the record".

As I said, I am not taking Cecelia's side, but I don't think she is quite as bitchy as is being suggested.

"Bitton says she cannot understand why her friend suddenly wants it blocked". Do you believe that this journalist really "cannot understand"?

Of course she understands.

[Ros]

Charles
In your NEWSPAPER article you say "but the singer-model has already moved into the Élysée Palace and is distracting him from his work" - I wonder where you found this? I even looked into Le Parisien & didn't find any mention -perhaps I read it too quickly?

[It was a short item on page two of le Parisien on Wednesday, Ros. CB]

[Rocket]

Daniel

I highly agree with you. We are moving toward a very uni-polar world these days dominated by gossip and one's 15 minutes of fame.

[christopher muir]

I can't see how Charles can avoid writing regularly about this high level soap opera. After all, it's making the front pages of every French newspaper each day. It could be that there are going to be serious consequences as a result of all these Sarkozian threads coming together. It's a story that may even lead to unwelcome international reactions (questions like "is he stable enough to trust?). Russian intelligence services must be having a good old belly laugh.

[dot king]

"Extrapolating from some of your posts, I suppose that the type of information which you are anxious to get is mainly not to say solely of strictly private and possibly very intimate nature, which is none of your business (nor of mine, of course)".
Not at all, Daniel, I prefer "real" news, but if this is all we get, then I read it and I comment. There had been no comment from yourself, who are a regular contributor to he blog, so I wondered how you felt about it. My question was truly in the spirit of asking someone what you thought about his behaviour.

BTW I'm not a "guest" here, I'm a European citizen and since my arrival (16 years ago) I have worked, paid taxes, frequented local shops, taken an interest in local politics by attending public meetings and voting in local and European elections.
I'm a "contribuable" liable for all the same taxes and expenses as you are.
I don't have the right to vote at national level, but I'm very interested in politics, and no I don't like Sarkozy bacause I don't rate him either as a man or a poltician.
There was no personal attack on you in my question and it was even posed in that way, pity you chose to make personal attacks in your reply. Je ne vous dérangerez plus. Merci.

[john o'doe]

Sarko's son will suffer and so will Carla Bruni's. Those photos of him on Sarko's shoulders at Petra were truly horrific.
I want to know what Sarko was doing in Jordan last weekend. Was it a state visit with the object of talks with the king or was that just an alibi for a visit to Petra with Carla? Remember that Petra was where Cécilia was first seen in public with Richard Attias. Whose plane did he travel on this time?

[dot king]

"the problem here is that sarko picked these women, revealing, imo, a real character defect. rather than jumping into a new relationship, he probably should have jumped onto a therapist's couch. he'll keep doing this self-destructive behavior until he is a 'bloody pulp.' sad for an otherwise fairly capable fellow. (it's truly astounding what some men will do to get laid)."
Azloon
this has also been said by more than one political commentator on a couple of the most serious political discussion programmes, eg "Ripostes", "C dans l'air" (though not expressed quite so bluntly). The "character defect" aspect of his very public displays of his private life has been quite widely commented by some repected and respectable figures;
As I've said before, it's all we get.

[dot king]

I think I might have committed une faute de français in my last post (not yet appeared as I write) so here's the correction in case:
Je ne vous dérangerai plus (for Daniel) - I think I put "dérangerez" tsk tsk . . .

[John Gregory Flinn]

"... Le Figaro gushed that Sarko had set course for a French version of President Kennedy's New Frontier."

Yes, I thought that too.
Especially the headline - "Sarkozy, le pied sur l'accélérateur" - which must be referring to the rhetoric!
They ('Le Figaro') seemed to be saying French society could not bear a 'therapie de choc', so what's 'rupture' meant to mean then?
(And of course Kennedy was a leftie, who sent troops into Vietnam - sorry "advisers". Which conflict was eventually abandoned by a republican.)
So much for political labels!

His spat with Cécilia looks like developing into an illustration of that old adage "hell hath no fury like ....", and could run and run - as they say.

[QCD]

A difficult word to translate in french is "peevish". For our French friends, it neatly encapsulates most of the comments on this page. Used to express indignation at another person's moral superiority. Peevishness: attitude repeatedly on found in the novels of Edith Wharton.

[dot king]

It isn't important whether Cecilia is a bitch, or Carla is a man-eater, but it IS important that there is a man in high office, who, so we are told, is quickly under the influence of women who aren't elected - aren't we already told that Ms Bruni is already in charge of invitations? - they are no more than les élues de son coeur - France needs a president whose brain is in gear - what he does with the other bits of his anatomy should be of no interest - unless, yes unless, it affects how he does his job, and maybe that's what is newsworthy here, that these women, no matter how critics and gossips qualify them, seem to have some kind of hold over him.
That he feels the need to parade in this way, is IMO, quite out of place in of someone in a position of such power.
Did someone mention "discretion" as being an appreciable quality? A renvoyer à Monsieur le Président.

[azloon]

QCD

characterizing the complaints about cecilia's atrocious parenting as 'peevish' is a typical 'above-it-all' eurosnobby reaction. i have no idea if you're british, but it wouldn't surprise me.

btw, you don't need to feel 'morally superior' to find cecilia's behavior abhorrent. anyone who's ever gone throuh divorce has faced this issue, and, if in touch with their 'higher angels,' resisted this destructive impulse to trash their ex- for the sake of their children.

to give in to this impulse is a mark of extreme immaturity, a characteristic that seems to infect the european elite.

that sarko aspires to hang out with this degenerate bunch is the real tragedy. so nouveau riche!

[D]

Sarkosi laid a red carpet for the press-people, he wanted a break from the past. Boy, he has succeeded. Chirac is quoted to have said, of Cecilia leaving for Attias, " Bernadette would not have done that to me". Cecilia is definitely different from Bernadette, who just went for les pieces jaunes instead of taking a frying pain to the side of the head of her wayward husband. She is an aristo, they have a way of dealing with this stuff.
When 2 people's love turn to hate it's best to take cover as long as the mud slinging last, that is impossible when these 2 people have press editors on speed-dial. Well, at least it's more fun to watch than hearing that our economy is in the toilet and we need to brace ourselves. I can't be the only one who thinks this is fun? Bet his mother does not find Cecilia cold now. Sarkosi is very clever yes, but totally lacking "l'étoffe du chef". These people need therapy.

[qwerty]

This saga is getting too creepy for words. Someone in the blog mentioned that Cee 1 was first seen with Attias in Petra, so Sarkozy goes there with Cee 2. Eery physical resemblance between the two. Sarkozy gave both women exactly the same ring. This is turning into Vertigo, or Obsession (by Brian de Palma). The man is quite mad, so is Cee 1 and maybe Cee 2. I'm refraining from any further commentary on him henceforth, hope he gets his reforms done quickly, and then OUT.

[thinknoworpaylater]

J.G.Flinn - though I enjoy your posts generally the notion that the Vietnam war was eventually abandoned by a Republican is neither here nor there. As Frank S. said much earlier a one-party state is what America is now! In that sense is it that different from Cuba? (Im sticking my neck out - but generally there is a drive to centre left even amongst the so-called right wing parties - U.K. read Conservative under Cameron)What are the differences between the Democrats and the Republicans? Close up (in America the Good) they seem different. Anywhere else the look much the same. Two turnips - which one do you choose? The fact is that Bush and Blair started the war in Iraq (probably illegaly) and have both gained a great deal financially. This is not envy (pace Terry) it is, as some say (the parents of dead U.K. soldiers) blood money. Harsh terms but many have died for what? And dont forget the Iraqis.

[thinknoworpaylater]

owerty - interesting post about consciousness and current neuro-science ideas. You have a point. There is too much blame attached to what appear to be simple conscious decisions but which are much more complex than that especially in the emotional department. Thanks - if you have the reference please pass it on.

[john o'doe]

Now here's some real news: Sarko asked Jacques Attali to head a working group to recommend measures to stimulate economic growth. He bravely promised to implement those recommendations whatever they might be. The group has now reported its conclusion.
Besides scrapping the administrative 'departements' Attali recommends loosening immigration restrictions to provide a younger and vigourous workforce.
Let's see how Sarko keeps his promise whilst not upsetting his ex-Front National supporters.

[QCD]

Azloon,

You once threatened me with sodomy on this blog if I ventured into Arizona so I wouldn't lecture about immaturity.

[azloon]

[Azloon,

You once threatened me with sodomy on this blog if I ventured into Arizona so I wouldn't lecture about immaturity.] QCD

ah, so you ARE british.

[Mary Catherine, US]

The ex is making a damn fool of herself.

[qwerty]

Thinknoworpaylater:

The article appeared in Time magazine some time last year (on the "Brain"). I copied and pasted it without keeping the full refernces but it would be easy to google. The New York Times runs similar articles on these subjects. A bit depressing, actually. Sort of questions our core identity (do we in fact have one?)

Taking this further into the realm of science fiction, read a little book about cancer by a renowned French cancer specialist (where the heck did I put it???) - having evolved from unicellular entities, we are in fact nothing more than a community of cells, agglomerated and "solidaires" to some extent but each fighting for life and food within our organism... (my imagination is probably extrapolating quite a bit here).

[Ros]

QCD
"Peevish" can't be used in relation to Cecilia & her parenting - the real use of this word in french, I should say, is as an adverb "to talk peevishly"= d'un ton irrité - maybe?

[dot king]

peevish - (according to my dictionary), choose your favourite: irritable, maussade, grincheux, d'humeur acariâtre

"The ex is making a damn fool of herself."

They're all making damn fools of themselves.

[Fred from NYC]

Dear Charles,

Thanks so much for your insightful blog and writing. This is one of the only steady sources I have to keep track after French affairs (Rue89 is helpful, but not the same).

Sarkozy (like him or not) is fascinating/terrifying (choose your term) but there is no doubt that he is shaping and influencing this country like no one has done before.

So, I know gossip sounds trashy, butin this case please keep them coming (and if you can: not at the expense of other French affairs and trends).

[Thank you, Fred, for your encouragement. It's not always easy to keep a balance but Sarkozy and his circus are a global news story now, whether we like it or not. CB]

[Daniel Strohl]

Isobel,

« belief in free speech »

I too believe in free speech. But in my opinion, calling (of course anonymously) a head of state a « gangster » goes well beyond free speech. I guess that if the same had happened in NZ , Australia, UK, or any other country, some local people would have been upset. But may be I am « vieux jeu » (old fashioned).
Happy New Year to you too !

Maggie G,

« Daniel, I think you were a little harsh with Dot »

May be or even probably. However, if Dot is interested to know what Sarkozy has in mind regarding civil servants, he made this morning a speech in Lille. In my opinion, it was very clear, and not at all negative for the civil servants. It is may be less positive for some unions, who are asking for ever more civil servants. He said that this was no more possible; he wants less of them, but better trained and better paid. Most of our neighbours (and Canada as well) have made that since years, and probably much more brutally than it will happen in France (no civil servant will or can be fired – a part of the retiring personnel will not be replaced). Our neighbours' (and Canada's) deficits have been lowered significantly and have even turned out into surplus in some cases.

« Real Politik » in these matters is of the responsibility of a head of state, who can not be only « a nice guy », as our presidents were consistently since 1981, for obvious reasons; both have been reelected – this is much less sure for Sarkozy, « s'il garde le cap » - as an ancient mariner, that is what I hope he will do.

Maggie, sorry for the lecture, I know of course that you don't need nor deserve it !

PS : last week, there was an interesting article in Time magazine about the "loonie", which has been climbing in value like the Euro, but has now become more "reasonable". Let us hope the same for the Euro.

Dot King,

« There was no personal attack on you in my question ».
Of course – I didn't feel attacked personnally. I understand that you do not like Sarkozy either as a man or as a head of state – this of course is your good right – but as an educated person, you should however have weighted your words.

[Valentin]

"Yes, I do. He is courageous, he is smart"

Not only: Sarko also has a very rare quality in politics today: honesty.
when you watch him saying "Je veux agir. Je veux changer le pays" (I want action, I want to change the country) you cannot keep any bit of distrust. It is obvious that this is who the man really is.

(unless of course you're a british citizen, bitterly making a living on French State SUBSIDIZED business, and being a guest here, even if for 16 years: because not a French citizen, and because the country is called France, not Europe, and because brits are the most europhobe people ever, which makes it LE COMBLE DU TOUPET to pretend you're an european citizen;
if you're all that, of course you will keep nagging on and on and on, on the principle expressed by Beaumarchais:
Calomniez, calomniez, il en restera toujours quelque chose)

[dot king]

"but as an educated person, you should however have weighted your words".
I always weigh my words, Daniel. I also heard on the news about the NY wishes for the civil service in Lille - it hasn't been commented here in an article by Charles, so apart from saying he made his speech, there isn't much to comment that is relevant to this blog.

I don't think it's outrageous to call a national leader a gangster when he can, via a single announcement (later démenti), send the businesses of his buddies soaring in the stockmarket, have others wondering whether tomorrow they'll still have a job, or worse a home, say the coffers are empty whilst buying identical Dior diamond rings for his serial ladyfriends, say his thoughts are with those who are alone, without resources, in a speech which we learn was written on the plane back from a luxury holiday in Egypt.
A man like that is not one I could have faith in, and I'm frankly surprised that you can. (Hence my question in the first place.)
You might argue that what he does with his own money is his own business and I would agree with it, so why is his extravagant life-style the only thing we get?
As an "educated person", I always think for myself too.

[christopher muir]

There's an interesting item about Sarkozy's forthcoming visit to India printed in today's Asia Times online. Perhaps the famous pair will soon be married, saving a lot of trouble for Indian protocol officials.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JA10Df01.html

[dot king]

Valentin, I'll introduce you to another British colloqialism "Go boil your head!"
And a quotation from a film which you won't know because whilst you've learned to use English well, you've only learned to use it pompously: "Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it infamy!"
Not all Brits are anti-Europe, in the referendum held in the late 1970's I voted "yes" (oui). And had already lived in France before then, and already spoke the language fluently, and spent as much time here as I could.
I don't have to justify anything, especially to you, Valentin, but when I worked in the private sector in France, I certainly wasn't "state subsidised", nor did I work "only" 35 hours; and even now, my salary (part-time may I remind you), comes from the PRIVATE school's budget.
But wherever my income comes from, I'm still paying the same cotisations and taxes as you.
There, does that make you happier?
Really, when you get indignant it's like something from "La cage aux folles".