In the mouth of the former president, the comparison is not trivial.
Thursday evening, invited on the set of Quotidien, François Hollande estimated that “in a certain way, Gabriel Attal is the return of Nicolas Sarkozy”.
While recognizing his “talent”, because “it is still a responsibility to be Prime Minister under 35”, “the themes and expressions” used by the new tenant of Matignon, notably during his speech general policy, “it makes me tirelessly think of Nicolas Sarkozy,” added the former head of state.
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He also cites as an example this promise from Gabriel Attal, declared on Thursday, “to seek out all possible housing with his teeth” to respond to the crisis in the sector.
Or even “working is a duty”, uttered about the SNCF controllers’ strike, words which “may offend” believes François Hollande.
“They are the same formulas, the same rules, the same processes,” adds the ex-president, for whom this comparison must surely “please” his rival in the 2012 presidential election.
“The original is better…”
François Hollande also finds it “surprising” that “all those who were in that fight, they were on the left, who wanted through my candidacy to dismiss Nicolas Sarkozy” find themselves twelve years later “with Nicolas Sarkozy, without Nicolas Sarkozy.”
“Some times the original is better… but the original, for the moment, is prevented,” he then slipped, provoking laughter from the audience.
A tackle referring to the latter's conviction on Wednesday in the Bygmalion affair.
“He is appealing to the Court of Cassation, so the presumption of innocence continues,” François Hollande simply reacted.
There is no doubt that the rapprochement between the two men could flatter Nicolas Sarkozy.
He himself had shown himself satisfied with the appointment of Gabriel Attal to Matignon, whom he had received during a lunch in mid-September, rue de Miromesnil, when he was Minister of National Education.
The latter even brought him a gift of a ballot paper marked de Gaulle dating from 1958.
During their subsequent meeting, Nicolas Sarkozy was surprised by the talent and ease of the minister, advising him to look further than Paris City Hall... to "the great ambition".
The right had also welcomed the appointment of a Prime Minister who adopted their language, while fearing that they would no longer be able to distinguish themselves.