Should we see a sign there? On the sidelines of a signing session in Palaiseau (Essonne) this Wednesday afternoon, for his book
Le temps des combats
(ed. Fayard), Nicolas Sarkozy was questioned about the political and even presidential future of Gabriel Attal. At the microphone of BFMTV, the former President of the Republic, who had lunch in September 2023 with the one who was still Minister of National Education, estimated that any path to the Élysée was
“a long adventure”
. But does the 34-year-old man, who has had a whirlwind and faultless career so far, have the qualities required to exercise the highest office?
“Of course he has qualities,”
replied the ex of the Élysée.
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As for the comparison between the omni-president that he was between 2007 and 2012 and the costume of hyperactive prime minister that Gabriel Attal donned, Nicolas Sarkozy considers that
“there is no copy”. “He is what he is, he does the best possible
,” said the last elected right-wing president. And to launch a dig at
“journalists”
and
“commentators”,
who have their
“expressions”
.
“People never think we're doing too much, they always think we're not doing enough. When you are prime minister, you have to give everything. When you are president, you have to give everything. This is what he does, he tries to do the best,”
explained Nicolas Sarkozy. Who does not intend to
"distribute good or bad points"
.
Similarities between the two men
If Gabriel Attal's very targeted and worked communication strongly resembles that deployed by Nicolas Sarkozy at the beginning of the 2000s in Place Beauvau, the former head of state considers that the head of government
“does not need to imitate anyone. »
“He devotes himself to his task with passion,”
he said. In addition to the same chosen land, Hauts-de-Seine, the two men found themselves on several themes over the years. On France which works, which rises early. Or on respect for secularism. While Nicolas Sarkozy banned the burka in public spaces in 2010, Gabriel Attal did the same regarding the wearing of the abaya at school. The same frank language, the same ambition, the same passion which led, a few weeks ago, another former president, François Hollande, to launch the following dig:
“Gabriel Attal, it's the return of Nicolas Sarkozy”
.