Winner of prestigious French literature award refuses to retract criticisms of “Sarkozy’s France”

Marie NDiaye recently won the Goncourt literature prize in France but a controversy has erupted over her criticism of French society. Libération interviews the French Culture Minister and the author.

IN THE PAPERS

By James CREEDON

Last August, Marie NDiaye gave an interview in which she spoke about the “detestable atmosphere of police surveillance and vulgarity in the France of Nicolas Sarkozy.”

Since her being awarded the Goncourt Prize, a UMP MP has spoken out against the author saying that there’s a “duty to be reserved” seeing as Goncourt winners represent France abroad.

The Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterand says he will not intervene in a controversy he thinks is ridiculous. “I think we’re simply dealing here with a difference of opinion.”

NDiaye says she will not retract anything. The writer has in the past said her life in Berlin is akin to being in exile from France. In Today’s Libération however she qualified this remark saying that she is of course free to return to France whenever she wants but has no desire to do so.

Other stories in today’s French papers

France Soir
Pasqua empties his bag

L’Est Républicain
Pasqua’s revelations are a damp squib

Aujourd’hui en France
Lotto boom on lucky Friday 13th

L’Equipe
Our luck – it’s them

Le Figaro
The English discover that they’re not good-looking

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