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Sarkozy Walks Out on ’60 Minutes’

Washington | October 29

AFP - President Nicolas Sarkozy of France walked out of an interview broadcast Sunday night on “60 Minutes,” clearly upset about a question posed by the correspondent Lesley Stahl about his marriage.

Mr. Sarkozy, 52, was shown standing up muttering in French about the question, regarding the state of relations with his wife, Cécilia. Then he pulled off the microphone and walked away.

The interview was conducted a few weeks ago, when speculation was rife in the French news media that Mr. Sarkozy and his wife, a 49-year-old former model, were splitting up.

On Oct. 18, Mr. Sarkozy’s office announced that he and his wife had divorced.

Mr. Sarkozy, who took office in May, is known to be particularly sensitive about personal questions.

He was also shown in the segment, titled “Sarko L’Americain,” saying, “What an idiot,” apparently in reference to his own press secretary.


quiet Bill October 29, 2007 - 1:10am
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( categories: News | Europe Minus UK | MSM Criticism | USA: Foreign Relations )

Sarkozy shows his temper to U.S. audience

Sun Oct 28, 2007 8:47pm EDT

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN2840924720071029

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy showed flashes of temper and abruptly terminated a television interview aimed at introducing him to U.S. audiences.

In the interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" broadcast on Sunday, the French president sparred with the U.S. correspondent, called his press secretary an imbecile, said he was too busy to make time for a "stupid" interview and ended the whole conversation abruptly when asked about the state of his marriage to Cecilia.

The Sarkozys' divorce was announced about two weeks later.

"If I had something to say about Cecilia, I would not do so here," he said before cutting off further questions.

In two interviews, a brief one aboard an airplane and a more formal one several weeks ago, he expressed his admiration for both the U.S. work ethic and its pop music.

Asked about his father's fears years ago that anyone with a Hungarian last name like Sarkozy could not succeed in France, he said one thing he admires about the U.S. democracy is its openness and opportunities to all kinds of people.

"You can be called Schwarzenegger and be governor of California," he said.

quiet Bill October 29, 2007 - 1:14am
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