Neo-Bonapartism? A parallel between Nicolas Sarkozy and ...
Neo-Bonapartism? A parallel between Nicolas Sarkozy and ...
Neo-Bonapartism? A parallel between Nicolas Sarkozy and ...
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<strong>Neo</strong>-<strong>Bonapartism</strong>? A <strong>parallel</strong> <strong>between</strong> <strong>Nicolas</strong> <strong>Sarkozy</strong> <strong>and</strong> Napoleon III<br />
considered such a st<strong>and</strong>point as a defy to the French tradition of secularism, “one of the most<br />
prized traditions of The Republic (regarding the) strict legal <strong>and</strong> cultural sanction against<br />
bringing matters of church <strong>and</strong> faith into the public realm” (Marqu<strong>and</strong>, 2008). The warning<br />
lights started the 12 th of September 2008 with the Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit to the<br />
Hexagon. The first breaking of the French presidential protocol occurred when <strong>Sarkozy</strong>, along<br />
with his wife Carla Bruni, welcomed the Pope personally at the airport. The “sacrilege”<br />
continued at the College of Bernardins where <strong>Sarkozy</strong> underlined, as cited by Englund “the<br />
importance of “the religious fact,” observing that “it is legitimate for a democracy <strong>and</strong> is<br />
respectful of laïcité for the dialogue to continue with the religions, <strong>and</strong> notably with the<br />
Christian religion, with which we have shared such a long history. Not to do so would be folly,<br />
would be a sin [faute] against culture <strong>and</strong> thought” (2008). By this way, even the use of a<br />
religious wording – “sin”- is interesting to highlight (<strong>and</strong> even more while mixed to notions like<br />
culture <strong>and</strong> thought). To this unexpected declaration emanating by one of the most secular<br />
country in Europe, the Pope called for “a new reflection on the true meaning <strong>and</strong> importance of<br />
laïcité”—a reflection that would usher in “new ways of interpreting <strong>and</strong> living daily life” (2008).<br />
In a country marked by a profound detachment vis a vis religion, <strong>Sarkozy</strong>’s religious preaching is<br />
puzzling regarding the French sacralization of their secular system. At this regard, the order’s<br />
card is not convincing by its own. Other motivations, such as the need of continuing his political<br />
breach into Le Pen electorate (widely known for their religious ultra-conservatism) or even the<br />
desire to bring in the religious within the current national debate of identity he is so attached<br />
do, seem to explain <strong>Sarkozy</strong>’s political religiosity.<br />
A website dedicated to this project is available starting Dec 7 th 2010 at: http://www.aui.ma/personal/~Y.Assaoui/<br />
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