French politics - the triangle at the top

De Villepin's elevation to the Matignon and Sarkozy's imminent return to the Ministry of the Interior raises all sorts of intriguing questions. De Villepin, the urbane aristo who has risen on Chirac's coat-tails, and Sarko, the ambitious immigrant desperate to challenge Chirac for the presidency and who once played fast and loose with Chirac's daughter. But, as Le Figaro reveals, the relationships are complex:

Pour Chirac, Villepin reste un collaborateur, comme Juppé ; pas vraiment un homme politique ; il le vouvoie. Sarkozy est pour le président «sans foi ni loi», c'est-à-dire «un homme politique» ; un rival ; il le tutoie. On sait en qui Chirac a confiance.

Translation:

For Chirac, Villepin remains a colleague, like Juppe [former Chirac favourite who was also prime minister for a time]; not really a political animal; he [Chirac] uses the [more formal] 'vous' form [in speaking to Villepin]. Sarkozy, according to the President, is a renegade, that is a political animal; a rival; he uses the [familiar] 'tu' form. We know whom Chirac trusts.