Pres. Nicolas Sarkozy's ex-wife can't stop book
PARIS (AP) - January 11, 2008 The former first lady's lawyers argued that the book by
journalist Anna Bitton, called "Cecilia. A Portrait," violated
her private life, and asked the court to ban it. Cecilia Sarkozy is
quoted as calling the president a "womanizer," "cheap" and
"ridiculous," in private meetings with the author, according to
excerpts published this week.
The court threw out the complaint, ruling that a ban "would be
totally disproportionate, all the more so because the book is
already on sale." The book appeared in bookstores Thursday.
Lawyer Michelle Cahen said she would appeal the decision.
"Cecilia. A Portrait" is one of three books coming out this
week about the former first lady, who divorced Sarkozy in October
after a long rocky spell in their 11-year marriage.
The judge noted that Cecilia Sarkozy had discussed her
relationship with her ex-husband in two interviews after her
divorce, suggesting she was not seeking to keep her private life
secret.
The author's lawyer, Christophe Bigot, argued that the Sarkozys
had made their private life public as part of their effort to get
him elected president.
He also said the book was not insulting to Cecilia Sarkozy,
although it calls her a shopping addict who complains that her
alimony payments are too low for her lifestyle.
Cecilia Sarkozy had known the journalist for a long time and
treated her as a friend, said Jean-Yves Dupeux, a lawyer for the
former first lady. He said the lawyers argued in court that the
book went "beyond transgression of the intimacy of the private
life of Madame Sarkozy."
Sarkozy's latest love interest - former model Carla Bruni - has
dominated front pages in recent weeks. The president hinted this
week that they plan to marry.