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Sarkozy's son not in mayor race
12/02/2008 16:01 - (SA)
Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy's 21-year-old son will not stand for mayor in a wealthy Paris suburb, the leader of the conservative UMP party said on Tuesday, putting an end to speculation about the young man's ambitions.
Jean Sarkozy burst onto the political scene in Neuilly-sur-Seine, west of Paris, at the weekend, by publicly disavowing the candidate that his father had supported there.
The candidate - David Martinon, the president's chief spokesperson - pulled out of the race on Monday.
The surprise turnaround left France's conservatives reeling and led many to wonder about Jean Sarkozy's political ambitions.
Jean Sarkozy "has a lot of talent, he's a smart and sensitive boy who loves politics", Patrick Devedjian, the secretary general of the president's conservative UMP party, told Europe-1 radio. But "his time has not come".
"There is no monarchy in Neuilly," Devedjian said, alluding to the fact that the president himself had long served as mayor of Neuilly, which is considered his political home base.
The political drama in Neuilly has riveted France since the weekend.
Sarkozy had sent spokesperson Martinon to stand for next month's municipal elections in Neuilly. Jean Sarkozy, the second of the president's three sons, had often been on the campaign trail alongside Martinon.
Dropping out
But there were indications that Martinon's campaign was struggling, and Jean Sarkozy and two political allies said on Sunday that they were breaking ranks with him, leaving open the question of whom they would support.
Martinon dropped out of the race and offered to resign as Sarkozy's press secretary, though the president turned down that offer.
The party said Nicolas Sarkozy was not involved in the Neuilly turnaround, but observers said it would have been difficult for his son to act without his father's approval.
Martinon, a long-time diplomat who has never stood for an election, has long been considered close to Sarkozy's ex-wife, Cecilia, whom the president divorced in October. Sarkozy married model and singer Carla Bruni a week ago.
The UMP chief, Devedjian, said he planned to support another candidate for Neuilly, Jean-Christophe Fromantin, an entrepreneur.
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