French judge rejects bid by Sarkozy's ex-wife to block book

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A Paris court on Friday rejected a bid by President Nicolas Sarkozy's ex-wife Cecilia to block publication of a book about her. The former first lady's lawyers argued that the book by journalist Anna Bitton, called "Cecilia. A Portrait," violated her private life, and asked the court to ban it. Cecilia is quoted as calling the president a "womanizer," "cheap" and "ridiculous," according to excerpts published this week. The court threw out the complaint, ruling that a ban "would be totally disproportionate, all the more so because the book is already on sale." The book appeared in bookstores Thursday. Lawyer Michelle Cahen said she would appeal the decision. "Cecilia. A Portrait" is one of three books coming out this week about the former first lady, who divorced Sarkozy in October after a long rocky spell in their 11-year marriage.