Neo-Bonapartism? A parallel between Nicolas Sarkozy and ...

Neo-Bonapartism? A parallel between Nicolas Sarkozy and Napoleon III
from the coverage attracted by the newsworthy events” (Campus, 2010). From the latter,
hyperactive politics as practiced by the French president serves the mediatic omnipresence
sakes. In parallel, the reliance on political myths, and for instance the “French tradition of
heroic, decisive, and strong leaders” (Campus, 2010) reinforces even further the storytelling
image of the “TéléPrésident”. On the personalization chapter, the contemporary trend of
politics previously mentioned in chapter I – the rise of personalization and the decline of party
identification -, is served by a never-seen before peoplization of politicians in the media. In
addition, and viewed from a populist lens, desacralizing the leaders via the (over) exposure of
their private lives in the media, is a convenient and effective tool in provoking the voters’
identification phenomenon. In fewer words, shaping a political leadership on human traits (that
is exposing the politicians’ daily lives, holidays, or personal problems) is a winning recipe in
catching the attention and making the “buzz”. This petite revolution in France’s usual “remote,
condescending, and monarchical governing style” is embodied by Sarkozy’s perpetual “show of
luxury vacations, millionaires' yachts and private jets, jogging shorts and worn jeans, fancy
sunglasses and fancier wristwatches, a sudden divorce followed by a quick, furtive marriage to a
trophy wife of disconcerting background” (Harriss, 2008). This flow of mediated exhibitionism
crossed a line during what The Economist called the “Act two of The Hyper-president’s
Spectacle” in which “Sarkozy decided to allow the camera in his intimacy, for one Paris Match
shoot in his Elysee Palace bedroom” (2007). At this regard, an interesting study conducted by
Kuhn about “The Public and the Private in contemporary French politics” determined four main
areas of contention for the personalization of politics, and primarily: money, health, sex and
sentimental intimacy, and finally family values (Kuhn, 2007). Sarkozy used (and continues to
A website dedicated to this project is available starting Dec 7 th 2010 at: http://www.aui.ma/personal/~Y.Assaoui/
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