Sarkozy governed by his emotions

The former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin has been acquitted of slandering President Nicolas Sarkozy in connection with the Clearstream affair. This is Sarkozy's worst defeat since he took office, the left-liberal daily La Repubblica writes: "Sarkozy allowed himself to get carried away by his eagerness to get even with an opponent and rival within his own party. ... The very judiciary for which he himself is the guarantor as state president handed him this unwanted gift for his 55th birthday. Because he presides over the Supreme Council of the Judiciary ... and because he is entitled to civil and penal immunity during his time in office, in the past 50 years none of his predecessors allowed themselves to be involved in a trial. They didn't want to abuse their privileges or run the risk of offending the dignity of the presidential office. Nicolas Sarkozy has broken with this tradition."

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