Dominique de Villepin detests Nicolas Sarkozy. Nicolas Sarkozy detests Domique de Villepin. Both are right of centre, and both were candidates for the presidency.
Villepin, former foreign minister and prime minister (2005–2007), the man whom many of us remember for his speech as foreign minister at the U.N. in 2003 opposing the war in Iraq, wishes to make life as difficult as possible for Sarkozy until eventually in 2012 he will succeed him. He has accused Sarkozy of governing “by imperial rule.” His most serious handicap is the lack of a political party of his own. Sarkozy pressed charges against him for his role in the Clearstream Affair, a political scandal during Sarkozy’s run-off campaign, In January, de Villepin was acquitted.
De Villepin writes lyrical poetry and is a dedicated admirer of Napoleon. He has written a book about his last hundred days.
Sarkozy has just suffered a serious political defeat in regional elections. This, de Villepin has decided, is the moment for him to make a strategic move.
He has announced the formation of a political party of which he will be the leader. Observers believe his chances to beat Sarkozy are not good and that this internal battle within the right may help the socialists win the presidency.
Evidently, de Villepin is prepared to face that possibility with a Gallic shrug.
Eric Koch’s book, The Weimar Triangle, is available at Indigo-Chapters and in your local bookstore. 
Does anyone but the man himself still take de Villepin seriously as a political force? I think Sarko will prove to have more lives than some people think. But I think more strongly that de V will prove to have fewer… though since Paris cleaned up the attitude of its café waiters, de V provides a rare breath of arrogance that is almost refreshing. And to write poetry at the same time! One suspects without taking the time to go look (does he have a blog) that his verse is Olympian rather than populist.
I refrain from comment. As Dr. Goebbels said when asked to say something about the abdication of Edward Vlll in 1936: “I do not interfere in the internal affairs iof a frienly nation”.