Laurent Kretz

I just finished Dawn, Dusk or Night from french writer Yasmina Reza (on Amazon in English / French).

Yasmina followed President Sarkozy during his campaign, trying to find the man behind the candidate. She was initially supporting another candidate from the opposite party (she doesn’t name him, but it might be Dominique Strauss-Kahn, now director of the International Monetary Fund).

I loved the book, I love the writing style, and found the essay very interesting. I won’t start here a political discussion about Sarkozy, even though I like the man, but just note some excerpts that I found thoughtful (note: I read the book in French, this is my translation).

Sarkozy about opponent Ségolène Royal:

Does Ms Royal help me ? Not sure about that. Not sure that being lousy is inevitably a handicap in France …

Conversation between Sarkozy and Yasmina:

Sarkozy: Love, that’s the only thing that counts.
Yasmina: I don’t believe you. If we removed your social life, you would wither.
S: If you removed my family, I would wither even more.
Y: If we moved you with Cécilia [ex-wife] and your kids to Maubeuge [small village in the north], you would throw yourself in the river.
S: I would become the king of Maubeuge in 2 years !

Sarkozy is ahead in the polls, but wants to keep the state of mind of the challenger. Yasmina:

Being the front-runner, what a disenchantment for someone in love with adversity.

Yasmina about the campaign rhythm and the innumerable trips:

In my notes, days slip by and blend together, monotonic frenzy where, meanwhile, history is made.
Fr: Dans mon cahier, les jours s’égrènent et se confondent, frénésie monotone où cependant l’histoire s’écrit.

Sarkozy, now President, answering the simple question “Are you happy ?”

I can’t say that I am unhappy… I am finally rid of this burden. To win [the elections], he says, means to appeal. My job [now] is to decide. I was much more worried about my ability to appeal …

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