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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nicolas Sarkozy: 'I'd return to politics only to save France' | Nicolas Sarkozy: 'I'd return to politics only to save France' |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The former French president Nicolas Sarkozy would prefer to be left alone to take his daughter to school and travel the world giving speeches. | The former French president Nicolas Sarkozy would prefer to be left alone to take his daughter to school and travel the world giving speeches. |
| If his country needs him, however, he will put duty before desire and return to save France. | If his country needs him, however, he will put duty before desire and return to save France. |
| The ex-president, nicknamed "Super Sarko" during his five-year term at the Elysée, vowed to disappear from public life after his election defeat to the Socialist François Hollande last year. | The ex-president, nicknamed "Super Sarko" during his five-year term at the Elysée, vowed to disappear from public life after his election defeat to the Socialist François Hollande last year. |
| In Thursday's edition of the centre-right magazine Valeurs Actuelles, however, Sarkozy is reportedly ready to make the ultimate self-sacrifice, saying he might have to make a political comeback "for the sake of France. | In Thursday's edition of the centre-right magazine Valeurs Actuelles, however, Sarkozy is reportedly ready to make the ultimate self-sacrifice, saying he might have to make a political comeback "for the sake of France. |
| "Sadly, there may come a moment when the question is no longer, do you want to?, but, do you have the choice? In this case I cannot say I'm happy taking my daughter to school and doing conferences around the world. | "Sadly, there may come a moment when the question is no longer, do you want to?, but, do you have the choice? In this case I cannot say I'm happy taking my daughter to school and doing conferences around the world. |
| "In that case, obviously, I shall be obliged to do this. Not because of desire, but of duty, and only because it is for France." | "In that case, obviously, I shall be obliged to do this. Not because of desire, but of duty, and only because it is for France." |
| However, the magazine quotes the former president as saying that the political world "bores him to death". | However, the magazine quotes the former president as saying that the political world "bores him to death". |
| "Politics … it's finished. Let's be clear, I've no desire to have anything to do with the political world … and anyway, look how I was treated ... let alone how my wife was treated. Banned from singing for five years," Sarkozy allegedly told friends. | "Politics … it's finished. Let's be clear, I've no desire to have anything to do with the political world … and anyway, look how I was treated ... let alone how my wife was treated. Banned from singing for five years," Sarkozy allegedly told friends. |
| He added that he would be persuaded to return only if France was veering towards the "extremism of the right or that of the left". | He added that he would be persuaded to return only if France was veering towards the "extremism of the right or that of the left". |
| He said he had no desire to avenge his defeat by Hollande. "That's a bad thing to feel. And anyway, what kind of revenge would it be to retake France in the state the Socialists will leave her. So, honestly, do I want to come back. No." | He said he had no desire to avenge his defeat by Hollande. "That's a bad thing to feel. And anyway, what kind of revenge would it be to retake France in the state the Socialists will leave her. So, honestly, do I want to come back. No." |
| Sarkozy was not speaking directly to Valeurs Actuelles, which reported that his comments had been made to close associates who spoke to the magazine, presumably with the former president's blessing. | Sarkozy was not speaking directly to Valeurs Actuelles, which reported that his comments had been made to close associates who spoke to the magazine, presumably with the former president's blessing. |
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