Sarkozy's role model is ...Tony Blair. Yes!

"How did you know?" I was asked yesterday, when the results of the French elections were announced. "How come you were so sure, Nicolаs Sarkozy was going to lose??"

There is nothing sure in politics. I have met personally all recent players: From Nicolas Sarkozy to his ex wife Cecilia, their son Louis, Cecilia's current husband Richard, Nicolas' current wife Carla, her mother Marissa ...


Sounds confusing, no doubt.


I have also met Francois Hollande and his ex partner Segolene Royal.


Meeting all of them gave me a personal feeling. BUT - how did I really know? How did I dare publish it ahead, despite the tight elections? The answer includes two words: Richard Attias.


                                                                  *** 


He is the current husband of Cecilia Sarkozy, the step father of Louis Sarkozy. Richard and I have known each other, since I agreed to host a New York charity, benefiting Nelson Mandela. It was the kick off for another charity in Dubai. Attias was then the president of  the "Publicist events".  He was involved in these events as well. We have become friends.


Five years later - he would cause the biggest scandal in France, dating Cecilia Sarkozy, then - Nicolas' wife.  After couple of tough years - which Richard (and later Cecilia) involved me - love won! Cecilia divorced the sitting-president Nicolas, and married Richard. They relocated to New York. Nicholas replaced Cecilia with the younger (and wealthier) Carla. There was a lot of tension between the two couples. But they have become more receptive to each other recently.


So here is what Richard - an experienced French insider - told me  a couple of weeks ago:
"Daphne, there is no chance, Nicholas would win!"


Attias divided Sarkozy's reign into two parts: "The first two years, where he behaved arrogantly, and mingled with billionaires only ..Then - after he lost his popularity dramatically - he tried hard, to support Angela Merkel regarding the Euro ..It was all too late."


Attias hinted, that Nicholas was already in talks about his career, following May 6th: "He knows, he is going to lose ..He is going to make a lot of money. A lot!! His role model is Tony Blair ..Daphne, I know you know Tony and Cherie. But ..Do you really know how much money Tony has made since he left No 10??"