Q. Mr. Sarkozy, the first thing that draws attention is that you look short next to your new girlfriend. Doesn’t that embarrass you?
A. What I lack in height, I make up for with my sharp tongue!

Q. And were you in a normal state when you described the youth of the French suburbs as scum and riffraff?
A. A. A. Of course I was in a normal state — actually in a very, very normal state!

Q. But don’t you think you were too harsh when you used those ugly descriptions?
A. A. Honestly, I admit I exaggerated in attacking them. My sense of authority was overflowing, for a simple reason: they don’t go to the voting booths. If they actually voted, believe me, I wouldn’t dare touch them. The only thing that scares us, democratic leaders, is the ballot box.

Q. But why do you attack them? Aren’t you yourself just an immigrant, not a “real” Frenchman?
A. True, but I have blue eyes and blond hair — that’s the difference between me and other immigrants. To put it bluntly, I’m not against all foreign communities in France, only against the dark‑skinned ones!

Q. If you were leading an Arab country, would you be democratic?
A. A. A. A. Impossible! People are the same everywhere. European leaders and Arab leaders are alike. The only difference is that we live in countries ruled by law, which is why our behavior looks a bit disciplined. If it weren’t for that, believe me, we’d be just like some of your leaders in the Arab world!

Q. Weren’t you embarrassed by the Bedouin tent your new friend Muammar Gaddafi set up in the middle of Paris during his visit?
A. A. A. Honestly, it embarrassed me a lot. Every time I saw that “Gaddafi tent” on TV, my chest tightened and I thought: this is unbelievable. But what can you do? If we don’t please him, we won’t get our share of those billions he’s sitting on!

Q. But what exactly bothered you about the tent?
A. A. Come on, man! We live in the City of Lights, and Gaddafi turned it into the Stone Age!

Q. To conclude this enjoyable interview, what is your biggest wish for 2008?
A. My only wish is that Carla doesn’t follow in Cécilia’s footsteps. Any new emotional earthquake could completely destroy my future, just like the tsunami destroyed Indonesia’s coasts years ago. If Carla leaves me, it means I can’t even keep the hearts of my lovers — so how could I win the hearts of millions of French voters? Simply put, if Carla dumps me, I’m finished, because no one will vote for me in the next presidential election. And that would be the worst thing that could happen in my life!

2008

The original text posted by the member on ahfir.com is in Arabic. This version is a translation into the current language. You can view the original article in the Arabic section by clicking the corresponding flag in the top bar of the website.