/>Dominique de VillepinEx-Prime Minister of FranceNicolas SarkozyPresident of FranceFull nameDominique Marie Francois Rene Galouzeau de VillepinNicolas Paul Stephane Sarkozy de Nagy-BocsaPrevious jobsDiplomat, Foreign minister, Interior ministerMayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, Budget minister, Finance minister, Interior ministerCareerGraduated from the elite ENA school to become a career diplomat before being chosen as Jacques Chirac's chief of staff. The president's patronage ensured his swift rise to become Prime Minister without ever being elected as an MP, or even a local councillor.Became a lawyer before entering politics and rapidly rose through the ranks to become a protégé of Jacques Chirac. Fell out with his boss after backing a rival for the 1995 presidency. Elected president in 2007.BackgroundBorn in Morocco to a French diplomat and a member of the Senate.Born in Paris to a Hungarian minor aristocrat and a French mother of Greek Jewish origin.Married toMarie-Laure Le GuayCarla BruniFamous forHis silver haired, aristrocratic good looks; leading the opposition to the war in Iraq and a rare applause at the UN for a speech against military action in Iraq; writing poetry and a book on Napoleon.A very public romance with Carla Bruni; being the "bling bling" president due to his love of Rolex watches and holidays on luxury yachts; describing young delinquents in Paris as racaille or "rabble"; negotiating the end to a nursery school siege.In quotes"The seagull is intoxicated by the sky. She turns, carried by the winds, with undulating wing, uttering from time to time her agonising peal of laughter..." (from The Shark and the Seagull, a poetry anthology)"I don't want to be president. I must be president."Thoughts on rivalIs said to refer to him as "that dwarf" in private.Promised to hang ex-PM "on a butcher's hook" (de Villepin told court)./>Dominique de VillepinEx-Prime Minister of FranceNicolas SarkozyPresident of FranceFamous forHis silver haired, aristrocratic good looks; leading the opposition to the war in Iraq and a rare applause at the UN for a speech against military action in Iraq; writing poetry and a book on Napoleon.A very public romance with Carla Bruni; being the "bling bling" president due to his love of Rolex watches and holidays on luxury yachts; describing young delinquents in Paris as racaille or "rabble"; negotiating the end to a nursery school siege.Thoughts on rivalIs said to refer to him as "that dwarf" in private.Promised to hang ex-PM "on a butcher's hook" (de Villepin told court).CareerGraduated from the elite ENA school to become a career diplomat before being chosen as Jacques Chirac's chief of staff. The president's patronage ensured his swift rise to become Prime Minister without ever being elected as an MP, or even a local councillor.Became a lawyer before entering politics and rapidly rose through the ranks to become a protégé of Jacques Chirac. Fell out with his boss after backing a rival for the 1995 presidency. Elected president in 2007.Previous jobsDiplomat, Foreign minister, Interior ministerMayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, Budget minister, Finance minister, Interior ministerMarried toMarie-Laure Le GuayCarla BruniBackgroundBorn in Morocco to a French diplomat and a member of the Senate.Born in Paris to a Hungarian minor aristocrat and a French mother of Greek Jewish origin.Full nameDominique Marie Francois Rene Galouzeau de VillepinNicolas Paul Stephane Sarkozy de Nagy-BocsaIn quotes"The seagull is intoxicated by the sky. She turns, carried by the winds, with undulating wing, uttering from time to time her agonising peal of laughter..." (from The Shark and the Seagull, a poetry anthology)"I don't want to be president. I must be president."

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THE RIVALS

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Nicolas Sarkozy v Dominique de Villepin	Nicolas Sarkozy v Dominique de Villepin
2010-01-28 22:30:15 UTC	2010-01-29 10:51:31 UTC (about 12 hours later)
The French President Nicolas Sarkozy and former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin are long standing political rivals. Here, we detail their differences.	The French President Nicolas Sarkozy and former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin are long standing political rivals. Here, we detail their differences.
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