“distressing”, for Nicolas Sarkozy – Libération

“The ex” is everywhere. From Emmanuel Macron to Gérard Larcher, via François Hollande, who hasn't Nicolas Sarkozy met in recent weeks, exerting all his influence in the midst of the crisis of Macron's second five-year term? He did not hesitate to tell it to the Tribune Sunday, three days before the verdict of the Court of Cassation which must ratify, or not, on Wednesday his conviction in the wiretapping case.

Sunday December 8, as revealed le Figarohe spent two hours with the head of state to convince him not to appoint François Bayrou, whom he hates, to Matignon. And to instead choose Sébastien Lecornu, current Minister of the Armed Forces. Leaving the Elysée, Nicolas Sarkozy thought he had won his case. Missed. “I am sorry for France for this distressing spectacle, and sorry for the President of the Republic, who himself submits to combinations that no one can understand,” he told the newspaper. He now judges Emmanuel Macron “elusive”, according to a relative. But do not intend to call on LR not to participate in the Bayrou government.

“Susceptible, like all the weak”

A regular at the Elysée, he is no longer listened to. Dissolution? He explains to the Tribune having only heard about it on June 8, the eve of the European elections, during the ceremony organized under the Arc de Triomphe for the arrival of American President Joe Biden. Stéphane Séjourné, then Minister of Foreign Affairs, told him: “It may take a dissolution.” “That would be stupid!” replies Nicolas Sarkozy, incredulous. In the evening, Emmanuel Macron does not hold him back to chat as he usually does. “When he doesn’t want to talk, it’s because he’s planning something.” he comments to his wife. A few days later, he will bluntly tell the head of state how badly he feels about a decision that he finds inconsistent.

During the summer, Emmanuel Macron, looking for a Prime Minister, called him regularly. Sarkozy advises François Baroin, it will be Michel Barnier. The former president did not see the Savoyard coming, even if the former European commissioner had sent him several summer messages. He gives him little credit. He is “susceptible, like all the weak”, he assures an elected official from the Ile-de-France region, regretting the departure of Gérald Darmanin. But he is pleased that LR agrees to participate in a coalition with the Macronists.

Everyone parades on rue de Miromesnil

Ministers, deputies and presidential advisers all parade on rue de Miromesnil. Like Guillaume Kasbarian, Macronist Minister of Civil Service in the Barnier government, who is going there on November 13. Nicolas Sarkozy receives RN deputy Sébastien Chenu for lunch, then former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on November 29. On December 3, it was the turn of LR leader Laurent Wauquiez, to whom he advised to become a minister and asked him to receive his son Louis, who wanted to enter politics. During lunch with Gabriel Attal, the young man attended an interview session. In November, Nicolas Sarkozy went to lunch at the Senate with Gérard Larcher then On December 7, after the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame, the Sarkozy and Hollande couples unexpectedly went to dinner in a brasserie in the 16th arrondissement. Unlikely.