G20 over but where was Carla?

The talking is over, the dining done and most importantly an historic deal has been agreed.

But away from the serious business of politics and economic, the burning question on many lips here in France - and apparently in the British media too - was where was Carla during the G20 in London?

You might remember that almost a year ago France's first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy wowed the media the other side of the channel when she accompanied her hubbie on a state visit.

But there was no sign of her in London during the G20 and instead the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, was left to cope on his own during the dinner thrown by the hosts, Britain's prime minister, Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah.

Sarkozy refused to answer journalists' questions as to his wife's whereabouts, according to the French glossy magazine, Gala, and instead was reportedly in "something of a sulk as he tucked into his meal isolated, without his beauty at his side to help him out with his less-than-perfect English."

So where was Carla?

Back home in the French capital according to a British tabloid, the Daily Mail, having a ciggie (tut tut) and putting her feet up.

In what the paper quite clearly saw as somewhat haughty behaviour from France's first lady, Bruni-Sarkozy's absence was described as being something of an insult to Sarah Brown, and more importantly perhaps explained in terms of her not wanting to be outshone by her US counterpart, Michelle Obama.

All right so that's perhaps one slightly less than generous clarification of Bruni-Sarkozy's absence.

Others included the more diplomatic interpretation of not wanting to appear to compete for the limelight with Michelle Obama.

In an interview with American television last November, Bruni-Sarkozy was full of praise for the new US first lady calling her "a strong, formidable and intelligent women, whom she was keen to meet."

Another explanation was that she found the idea of hanging on Sarkozy's arm more than a little boring and of course most unkind of all maybe that she didn't want to appear as yet another giant beside her much shorter husband during photo calls with the US presidential couple.

Of course Bruni-Sarkozy wasn't the only "no show" as the British daily, the Guardian points out.

Her husband may have had to "muddle through without her for a couple of days, but he was in good company as spouses of a couple of other G20 heads of state or government chose not to attend.

As is often the case on official business, Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel, was without her husband, Joachim Sauer, who rarely puts in an appearance at such events.

And Argentina's president, Cristina Fernandez, was also without her other half, Nestor Kirchner.

But as he was her predecessor in office, maybe that was just a bit of protocol coming into play.

Back to Bruni-Sarkozy though, and whatever might or might not have been the reasons behind her decision to stay at home, she will meet the US presidential pair this weekend - on home turf so-to-speak - as France hosts the Nato summit in Strasbourg.

Sarkozy addresses the nation

Anyone sat in front of the small screen during prime time viewing here in France this evening will be hard-pushed for choice as the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, will be appearing live simultaneously on three national channels in a "special" (maximum) 90-minute programme.

He'll be facing questions from four selected journalists from the two major national channels, TF1 and France 2, along with one from M6 and another from the radio station, RTL.

It's being billed as Sarkozy's response to the economic crisis France (and much of the rest of the world) is going through, the credit crunch, the recession, call it what you will.

"Face à la crise" (surely no translation is necessary) is also likely to be a direct reaction to last week's general nationwide strike, although his office insists that there is no immediate connection between the two.

Instead it's being touted as a chance for Sarkozy to "explain" and put into perspective the government's handling of the economy during the credit crunch in France over the past couple of months and to "reassure" the French that the correct measures have been taken.

That "reassurance" is perhaps something many of those who took to the streets last week will be seeking, especially in light of the €360 billion fund (or stimulus package) the government has given to guarantee banks at a time when many small and medium sized businesses are still having problems securing loans.

Then of course there's the problem of purchasing power - or rather how to increase it, which was after all a campaign pledge when Sarkozy was running for office and an oft-repeated goal since he came to power.

Job losses, cuts in the education budget, pension and judicial reforms are also likely to be on the agenda in the first live television interview Sarkozy will have given since June last year, just before he started his six-month stint at the head of the rotating presidency of the European Union.

When he came to office in May 2007, Sarkozy said that there would be no formal or regular structured "message to the nation" as there had been under previous presidents and that he would pop up on our screens if and when he saw fit.

Tonight's format will be similar to the televised interview Sarkozy gave last April.

Back then he answered questions on a range of issues and admitted that "errors in communication" had been made in the way policy reforms had been introduced, namely that they hadn't been explained sufficiently well - and he promised more transparency.

The difference this time around though is that there's unlikely to be an admission of error, but instead an attempt to set people's minds at rest that the policies and measures the government has been pursuing over the past couple of months have been the right ones and in the interests of the country as a whole.

The country awaits with baited (sic) breath n'est-ce pas?

France's former first lady - Cécilia - breaks her silence

Cécilia Attias, the former first lady of France until her divorce from the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, last October, has spoken to the press for the first time in almost nine months in an interview that appeared in the Swiss daily, La Tribune de Genève last weekend.

She's not a woman who talks much to the press, but was honouring a longstanding promise she had made with Alain Jourdan, a journalist from the paper.

It could be seen as rather an odd sort of interview really. While far from being a "kiss and tell", on the surface at least it appears to be rather gentle, neither too probing nor revealing about her feelings towards her former husband.

But there are some nuances that certainly could be construed as reflecting a degree of bitterness depending on how you read them. And there's some indication that she blames Sarkozy for what happened (professionally speaking) to her current husband, Richard Attias, and the man for whom she twice left the French president.

When asked why the couple had recently moved to Dubai, where (Richard) Attias now works, rather than remain in Geneva where he had offices for more than a decade, she describes what happened with a certain degree of irony and none-too-subtley disguised finger pointing.

"All right, what has to be said has to be said," she says and explains how her husband (the couple married in March) had organised the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland for its founder, Klaus Schwab, for 13 years.

"The day of our marriage he (Schwab) gave us a wonderful present," she told the paper.

"He said he wouldn't be needing Richard's services any longer because he didn't want to create a conflict with the French government.

"My husband was very disappointed. Since then I've learned that the French president will probably attend the next Davos, even though he never has before," she added.

Of course what most will probably be hoping for is a degree of "dishing the dirt" on her former husband and in particular the reasons behind the break up of their marriage.

But once again, Attias can appear slightly evasive, admitting that being in the public eye was not exactly what she had wanted, even though it went hand-in-hand with being married to the French president.

“From the moment you marry a political figure you realised that you have to accept the negative side of media coverage," she tells the paper.

"One moment you’re one of the seven wonders of the world and the next you’re having your reputation dragged through the mud.

"It’s almost impossible to avoid such intense media coverage. You have to accept it but also be able to manage it – which is something I couldn’t do.”

While accepting that interest in her private life was inevitable especially after her divorce and subsequent remarriage, Attias also says that at times she felt like "prey hunted down by the media."

She also insists that there's no sense of acrimony to some - previously close friends - who appeared not to stand by her side when she was in the full glare of the media.

"I felt betrayed by some close friends but don’t hold any grudges," she said.

"It’s human nature. I understand that the politics and power can be very attractive and several people were tempted.

"Finally I won in terms of serenity. I have kept about 70 per cent of my friends. True friendship have stood the test of time and I left behind those who tried to take advantage of me."

Tunisian test for Sarkozy's human rights policy

The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, begins a state visit to Tunisia on Monday during which he’ll once again be promoting French industry. He’s also expected to put the finishing touches to his pet project of a Mediterranean Union.

But there’s likely to be an uncomfortable undertone throughout the whole trip. Although human rights will not be topping the agenda, Sarkozy will face a stern test of both his stance on the issue and his recent promise not to tolerate any more controversial statements from some of his ministers

Over the years Tunisia has come in for a great deal of international condemnation for its abuse of human rights, and local non-governmental organisations are hoping the issue will be addressed during the visit.

But Sarkozy has often been accused of pursuing a foreign policy, which puts commercial interests ahead of considerations for human rights and his visit to Tunisia will probably follow a similar pattern.

He’ll be surrounded by a gaggle of leading French industrialists representing the usual suspects that regularly accompany him on foreign trips including Airbus and Alstom.

Also part of his entourage however, is Rama Yade, the junior minister for human rights.

The outspoken Yade has already embarrassed her boss on a couple of occasions. Last year she criticised the human rights record of Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi while he was in Paris on a buying spree – echoing the thoughts of many at the time.

And more recently there was her infamous interview with the French daily, Le Monde, in which she said Sarkozy had set a number of conditions on China before he would confirm whether he would attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic games in Beijing. She later claimed she had been misquoted.

Even though a fair amount of attention will be directed towards her and whether she keeps quiet, there’s no denying that the real purpose of the visit is trade yet again.

As well as being a consummate politician, Sarkozy is probably also one of France’s best salesmen. He’ll be looking to ease a deal with Tunisian airlines, which is looking to renew its fleet and jolly along the possibility of France exporting its expertise in nuclear technology. In the pipeline is an agreement to build a reactor for civil energy purposes along the lines of deals already struck with Libya and Algeria.

When Sarkozy meets the Tunisian president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, he’ll also be looking to finalise plans for his own pet project – the setting up of a Mediterranean Union. Planned as a forum for boosting political and economic dialogue between the 27-member European Union and North African countries, details are due to be officially unveiled in Paris on July 13 after France takes over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU.

Past evidence suggests that Sarkozy will aim to come home with an armful of contracts, but at what cost in terms of addressing the problem of Tunisia’s poor track record on human rights.

In spite of the promises he made just last week, he might once again find himself allowing Yade free rein to say what he feels, as head of state, unable to declare on the record.

You’re fired

She might have dropped out of the headlines for the past few months, but France’s former almost-but-not-quite first lady, Cécilia Sarkozy, is back in the news once again.

Actually the press has returned to using her pre-Sarkozy and pre-Martin maiden name of Ciganer-Albéniz, in reporting gossip circulating that she’s about to follow her second better-half, Nicolas, up the aisle to make it third time lucky.

The story first “broke” in January in the daily national Le Parisien that Cécilia and the one for whom she turned down wedded Bling Bling bliss at the Elysée palace, French media hot shot Richard Attias, were due to tie the knot some time in March.

Attias issued a hasty denial in a formal statement that also threatened legal action if further reports appeared that “made any allusion to a forthcoming marriage.”

Public posturing perhaps from a private person trying to scotch any interest in what might or might not be in the pipeline, and about as successful as Sarkozy N was in keeping his whirlwind romance with his Carla off the front pages. It obviously requires time and effort to orchestrate a story so that it unfolds in the way the main protagonists wish.

Not surprisingly the rumours resurfaced at the beginning of March when the fashion house, Versace, spilled the proverbial beans. In a bout of self-praising backslapping it informed those who were interested, and probably many who were not, that the couple had chosen to tog themselves up in made-to-measure His ‘n Hers from its haute couture to celebrate their “happy occasion” slated in New York for the end of this month.

Clearly Ciganer-Albéniz was not amused by the betrayal of confidence and according to this weekend’s edition of Le Journal du Dimanche, somewhat belatedly “fired” the fashion house, preferring to look elsewhere for the right clobber.

Oh dear the trials and tribulations of being a don’t-wannabe public figure.

Admittedly both Ciganer-Albéniz and Attias have cast themselves as rather unwilling participants in the whole merry go round. But they cannot really be surprised by the level of interest in their impending whatever’s.

Their romance dates back to 2005 when Cécilia, on a “time out” from Sarkozy, split her time between Paris and New York. Photographs and an account of their lives even made it on to the pages of the weekly glossy, Paris Match, before the wayward wife half-heartedly returned to give her marriage a second bash just ahead of presidential campaigning.

Cécilia must be well used to the attention by now with two marriages and divorces to high profile husbands behind her, Sarkozy and the later French television entertainer, Jacques Martin.

And similarly Attias, as head honcho at the French media group Publicis, can be no stranger to the way a story unfolds once the news juggernaut has got wind of it.

Bring on the wedding bells and be done with it.

It’s Tammy Wynette day at the Elysée

Nicolas and Cecilia Sarkozy split!

While many may view October 18 as Black Thursday for the president, Nicolas Sarkozy, it did in fact have more of a ring about it of the late country singer Tammy Wynette’s two greatest hits.

True the nation was brought to a virtual standstill by a transportation strike over Sarkozy’s proposed pension reforms – a pretty murky day indeed. But that soon became the proverbial chip paper as far as most were concerned after the golden couple of French politics announced the end of their marriage.

Nobody was really surprised after weeks of media buzz. Evidently Cecilia no longer wanted to “Stand by her man” preferring Tammy’s other huge hit D.I.V.O.R.C.E.

So no JFK-Jackie O fairytale after all. Mind you their marriage (the second for both of them) can hardly have been a smooth ride, even though its end was by mutual consent.

HE is a consummate politician, fiercely ambitious, who has had his sights firmly set on the country’s top job from almost the outset of his political career. SHE shuns the spotlight, never wanted to set up house at the presidential residence, the Elysée Palace, and refused outright to slip into the traditional ornamental role of France’s First Lady.

It’s the second time they’ve split – but this time apparently it’s for good. Back in 2005, Cecilia legged it across the Atlantic, preferring the attentions of a New York-based French advertising executive to the hyperactivity of a man destined for high office.

Even though the Sarkozys reconciled in the run-up to May’s presidential election and many political commentators perceived Cecilia as an instrumental part of the campaign team, the rumour mill was rife with reports of another impending separation.

Remember, this was the same woman who failed to vote in the second round of that election and “shocked” the nation by wearing Prada at her husband’s inauguration. She also declared a sore throat as the reason for declining an invitation to tea with George W. and his missus, and was curiously allowed to who swan into Libya at the last moment to help negotiate the freedom of the Bulgarian nurses and doctor who had been sentenced to death.

A maverick who admitted to being neither politically correct nor cut out for the role of First Lady, Cecilia has been noticeable by her absence from her (now) former husband’s side over the past couple of months.









What’s most interesting perhaps about the whole sad affair is not that they’re getting divorced at all, but that the rumours, the announcement and the after-the-fact analysis have made the headlines at all. For sure it’s a first in modern French politics – a divorcé as head of state, but private matters of public figures have traditionally remained exactly that – private.

Perhaps it’s an indication that Sarkozy is now paying the price for his obsession with blanket media coverage of his every twitch.

There again a sceptic would say that it’s nothing more than cynical and calculating politicking. After all the timing was spot on. The transport strike may have been headline news in the morning, but by lunchtime the couple’s divorce was the lead story.

So after releasing the news at the moment guaranteed to make the most impact what does the (un)happy couple do?

HE flies off to Portugal for a pow-wow with other EU leaders – business as usual then. And SHE retires gracefully from public life by granting an exclusive interview to a regional daily, claiming she has been unhappy being in the limelight, wants to take care of her son and pursue her own career.

Oh yes, and she mentioned her fling in New York last year when she fell in love (again). A real withdrawal from the media glare.

A tale of two “marriages” – French style

One of the many great things about France is the law governing personal privacy and the fact that the mainstream media doesn’t really go around poking its nose into public figures’ private lives. Political scandal as such, focuses more on who has taken a backhander rather than mattress-creaking exploits. As a general rule of thumb then, it “just ain’t that interesting”.

Fair enough, the disclosure that Mitterand had a daughter by his longstanding mistress made the headlines several years ago, but didn’t have nearly the sort of impact it might surely have had back in Blighty. Similarly it’s pretty much common knowledge that Chirac has had a few dalliances during his marriage to Bernadette (her of the Eiffel Tower hairdon’t), and one of them apparently bore fruit somewhere in Japan, which perhaps goes a long way to explaining his many “diplomatic” trips to the Far East.

Right now though there has been a fair number of words penned on the collapse of Segolene’s relationship with her partner, François Hollande. She of course was the Socialist Party’s presidential candidate. He was the boss of the party. Much was made (in the US media) that they were not legally wed. An “unmarried mother of four” was how CNN’s Jim Bitterman disgracefully described her, although Segolene was more than willing to drive home her status as a “mother” in the final days of her unsuccessful campaign.

Anyway Segolene and François are now to split. It’s official. She announced it at on the same evening the final results for parliamentary elections were released. A not-so-well-kept secret timed to hit the stands just before the launch of her book. It won’t exactly be a political kiss-and-tell, but we’re promised some revelations about the back-stabbing she received from all quarters in the final few months of the race for the Elysée Palace.

“A woman scorned” and all that perhaps. But maybe Segolene is a lot cleverer than many think and there is more political depth to her than her critics would have us believe. Most commentators agree that the Left in general and the Socialist Party in particular needs a massive shake-up. And she clearly sees herself as the one to do it. So the first logical step would appear to be to kick that “cheating man” out of her life – which is exactly what she has done.

Troubled conjugal waters on the Left then, but also on the Right. Cecilia spent much of last year in Canada, leaving hubbie alone to pursue his (now successful) presidential ambitions. Lured perhaps by the promise of posh frocks, glitz and even more glamour, she returned a couple of months before the final vote, and has been beautifully and dutifully by his side ever since (apart from not bothering to vote in the second round of the presidential election it should be added)

There have been some very public shows of affection on his part at least.
Just how strong his feelings are though for his wife are probably best demonstrated by how they got together in the first place.

Cecilia María Sara Isabel Ciganer-Sarkozy to give her full blown name has been married before – to former TV host Jacques Martin – BIG in the 70s and 80s when he was a presenter of one of the country’s most popular Sunday afternoon programmes,

They have two gorgeous gals – blonde stunners both of them – very photogenic and so full of style it’s flooding out of their lugholes. Cecilia and Jacques married in the 70s at the local town hall, as is often the custom here in France, and the ceremony was officiated of course by the mayor. Their local town hall was Neuilly, one of the chicest Parisian suburbs. And the mayor was a certain Nicolas Sarkozy!

Apparently he was smitten on the spot, fell in love with the bride and spent the next six years pursuing her. The rest is history – or herstory – or theirstory – if you prefer. Very….um…Mills and Boone?

There’s still a lingering doubt among the cognoscenti whether they’ll last the course. But that said, it probably wouldn’t really hurt Sarkozy’s career if she legged it again. And apart from a couple of paragraphs in the press and glossies, and a few minutes on the box, it probably wouldn’t turn into a “Charles and Diana” style national pastime.

And the Devil wears Prada!

Let’s get to the important FACTS as published here in France (so it must be true). She’s the mother of two stunning teenage daughters, divorced, remarried bloke with two sons, then had another son with him. Spent most of last year in Canada taking a timeout from marriage returning as political campaigning gathered momentum. Reportedly didn’t vote in the second runoff for the Presidential election (polemic galore) and then horror upon horrors, tut tut, turns up at the Official Ceremony haute couturely decked in an outfit designed by an Italian rather than French fashion house.

Yep, welcome don’t-really-wannabe First Lady Cecila to the Elysees palace. She’s already wowing the “serious” weeklies and there are comparisons to another Premiere Dame from many years ago whom the French often view as an adopted daughter. It can only be a matter of time before the glossies bid a huge BONJOUR to the latest incarnation of Jackie O.

There are though very mixed messages for women in French society. Or there again, maybe not.

Mr S achieves almost sexual parity (can that exist) in his 15-strong cabinet (but where’s the transsexual?). Eight men and seven women? Among the latter a political bruiser in at the Interior Ministry (a Top Job), a newcomer in at the Justice Ministry – an extra plus she is of Arab descent……that goes down a storm with the media. An outspoken, slightly wonky-thinking pro-gay at Health and Sport tempered with an outspoken and seriously Catholic (and apparently voted the person the Gay Movement loves most in spite of her homophobia) ensconced at Social Cohesion (of all things). The three other women are at Culture, Agriculture and finally a 39-year-old at Research and Science.

Simone Veil (bless her) wielding an awful lot of power, advice and tender loving care (she is a woman after all) in the background.

Progress indeed! On the surface at least.

But wait WHAT is happening over there in the meeja? You know that enlightened metier stuffed to the gills with liberal thinkers. Are those in charge of that oh-so-powerful tool paying heed? Are they heck as like!

Take the case of Beatrice Schoenberg. She’s the main anchor on the weekend evening news on France 2, the country’s main public TV Channel (a French BBC 1). Well she was until February this year when she had to “take a break” while the election campaign heated up. Why? Because she was/is married to Jean-Louis Borloo – a minister in the then government and touted at the time as a potential candidate for Prime Minister should Sarkozy have won.

So poor old BS shunted to the sidelines with the promise of returning to our screens again in her old job in the Summer. But now it appears that’s not to be. Hubby hasn’t been made PM but has still landed one of the top jobs, a fact which evidently prevents BS – with her years of experience – remaining objective. Even before she stepped down every word and nuance was allegedly being analysed and interpreted. So much for equality of opportunity. And now Ms S is to be allowed the highly sought after job of presenting a weekly programme on Celebrities. She must feel as though she has reached the very pinnacle of her career.

Take the case of Christine Okrent, one of this country’s most respected journalists and herself a former presenter of the daily news on that very same channel (albeit several years ago). She has been hosting a critically acclaimed current affairs programme on the other national public channel France 3. But she’s in trouble too because she is married to a certain Bernard Kouchner…..yep that’s right the very same. So what are the chances of her lasting very much longer.

Sad – and nothing new unfortunately. Yonks ago another anchor on France 2, Anne Sinclair, had to resign because she married Dominique Strauss-Kahn (later Finance Minister) and more recently, Marie Drucker said goodbye at France 3 – she was shoved – because she was dating a member of the government.

Meanwhile over at commercial telly, things are hardly any better – in the other direction. TF1 (ITV à la Française) has clearly been smooching with Sarkozy but learned nothing of the gender lesson. Two recent appointments, actually both within the last fortnight went to cronies of the newly elected. And take note, we’re not talking minor jobs here. One will be Chairman and the other Mr S’s former electoral strategist) will also be on the Board. Clearly no conflict of interest there for either of them. Great to see gender justice being exercised. Does the name Berlusconi scream to mind?

Oh yes and during THE debate the week before the Presidential vote, TF1’s top anchor (a man) and France 2’s Head of News (a woman – and funnily enough the one who has just shown Beatrice Schoenberg the door) co-hosted the Sarkozy-Royal battle.

While much was being made of equal time being allocated to both candidates for their answers, data released after the debate showed that parity had fared less well between the presenters and the amount of time they spent posing questions or interjecting. 90:10 per cent. No prizes for guessing in whose favour.