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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How will Wall Street react to the Trump-Powell showdown?
Today's Big Question 'Market turmoil' seems likely
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
Google ruled a monopoly over ad tech dominance
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi hailed the ruling as a 'landmark victory in the ongoing fight to stop Google from monopolizing the digital public square'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador's CECOT prison becomes Washington's go-to destination
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Republicans and Democrats alike are clamoring for access to the Trump administration's extrajudicial deportation camp — for very different reasons
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
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
By The Week Staff
-
'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
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
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
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who 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
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
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'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
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
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
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?
By The Week UK
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK