France: The man Sarkozy pushed aside
Dominique de Villepin has been acquitted of all charges of trying to smear Sarkozy—charges Villepin says were trumped up—and has just announced that he will run for president, said Sophie Pilgrim at France24.com.
Sophie Pilgrim
France24.com
President Nicolas Sarkozy’s archenemy is back and baying for his blood, said Sophie Pilgrim. Dominique de Villepin has been acquitted of all charges of trying to smear Sarkozy—charges Villepin says were trumped up—and has just announced that he will run for president. The two men developed their “bitter rivalry” when they were both cabinet ministers under Jacques Chirac.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Back then, Villepin seemed the natural choice to succeed as president. Tan, suave, articulate, “and hovering almost a foot above Sarkozy in height,” Villepin “would beat the current president hands down in a beauty pageant.” And unlike Sarkozy’s “cringe-inducing” speeches, Villepin’s addresses are “a joy to listen to.” When, as foreign minister in 2003, he took the lectern at the U.N. to argue against the Iraq war, the Security Council gave him a rare standing ovation.
Yet Villepin quickly disappeared from the political scene, brought down by a string of corruption scandals he claims were made up by Sarkozy’s entourage. Does he have a chance now? The day after his announcement, he was polling at just 1 percent. But that could change. Sarkozy, at this point, is “largely despised.” Villepin is charming, and the French admire charm.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Bill Moyers: the journalist who was the face of PBS
Feature A legend in public broadcasting
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department
-
Cuomo announces third-party run for NYC mayor
Speed Read He will go up against progressive Democratic powerhouse Zohran Mamdani and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: which party are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?