French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his former model of a wife Carla Bruni grace the cover of The Economist this week. Sarkozy, often mocked for his modest height, is depicted only by his legs on the British weekly’s cover, the rest of his body being outrageously absorbed by a Napoleonic “bicorn” hat. Napoleon, of course, was another French leader (emperor back then) of modest height.
Mr. Sarkozy is embattled in the Bettencourt scandal at home where his Labor Minister, Eric Woerth (former Budget Minister) is being investigated for pushing Liliane Bettencourt’s money manager’s application to the Medal of Honor (“Légion d’Honneur”). In return, the press claims, the money manager, Patrice de Maistre, would hire his wife as part of this team. Mrs Bettencourt, the L’Oréal heiress, is France’s richest woman and one of the largest donators to Mr Sarkozy’s UMP party. Nicolas Sarkozy will most likely be seeking reelection in May 2012.
Click to read the story on the shrinking Président.
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