Merkel Officials Said to Snub Sarkozy Speech to CDU Party
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party has blocked Nicolas Sarkozy from addressing its annual convention, two people with direct knowledge said, extending the chill between the former allies.
The former French president, who’s seeking a comeback after voters ousted him in 2012, won’t be allowed to give a speech at the Christian Democratic Union’s two-day conference starting Dec. 9 in Cologne, the party and government officials said. While Sarkozy’s UMP party is invited to send representatives, it was made clear that he couldn’t take the podium, said the officials, who asked not to be named because the talks are private. CDU spokesman Jochen Blind said the party won’t comment publicly on the matter.