Watch the CBS trailer

President Sarkozy called his own spokesman an “imbecile” and stormed out of a television interview as the strains of marital breakdown while trying to reform France took their toll on him.

A visibly exasperated Mr Sarkozy cut short the interview with CBS, the American network, ripped off his microphone and walked away when questioned about his marriage this month. Two weeks after the interview, which was broadcast on Sunday, he announced his divorce from Cécilia, his wife of 11 years.

Sarko l’Américain – as he is known - hoped to use the 60 Minutes programme to portray himself as a friend of the US before a state visit to Washington on November 6. His efforts were undermined by a performance likely to reawaken questions over his quick temper, which opponents describe as his Achilles’ heel.

In an initial conversation with Lesley Stahl, the CBS journalist, Mr Sarkozy refused to wear a microphone, with the result that the sound was too poor to be used. Mrs Stahl asked for a second meeting, approved by David Martinon, the President’s spokesman, but not, apparently, by the head of state himself. He arrived in a fury with Mr Martinon for taking up his time on a busy day. “Imbecile,” he muttered loudly, rolling his eyes while his hapless spokesman stood in a corner looking peeved.

Mrs Stahl told the President that the cameras were turned on but he continued to complain as an assistant tried to apply make-up to his face. “All this is stupid. It’s stupid. It’s a total mistake,” he said.

The journalist signalled to Mr Sarkozy that he should take a deep breath and calm down – again to no avail. “I don’t have the time. I have a big job to do, I have a schedule,” he went on, adding in English: “Very busy. Very busy.”

The interview began with Mr Sarkozy declaring: “I want the Americans to know that they can count on us. But at the same time, we want to be free to disagree.”

Then came the question about the “mystery” of Mrs Sarkozy’s disappearance from the public stage. At the time she had not been seen since July and Paris was awash with speculation over the presidential marriage.

Mr Sarkozy’s smile froze. “If I had to say something about Cécilia, I would certainly not do so here,” he said before taking off his microphone.

“What was unfair?” Mrs Stahl stammered. “Au revoir, merci et bon courage (Good-bye, thank-you and good luck),” said the President over his shoulder as he walked out.

The incident illustrated Mr Sarkozy’s sensitivity over his divorce. A French journalist who asked about the marriage at a press conference received similarly short shrift, with Mr Sarkozy denouncing the media’s “inelegance” in pursuing the issue.

Disappearing acts

— In 1982 John Nott, the Defence Secretary, walked out of an interview with Sir Robin Day after the Newsnight presenter described him as “a transient, here today, gone tomorrow politician”

— In 2003 David Westwood, Chief Constable of Humberside, stormed off set after being grilled by Jeremy Paxman about errors connected to the Soham murder inquiry

— The CBS News anchorman Dan Rather walked out of a live recording of the Evening News in 1987 after he was told that coverage of the United States Open tennis tournament would cut into the newscast. CBS was forced to transmit a blank signal for almost seven minutes

—Pedro Santana Lopes, former Prime Minister of Portugal, abandoned a television interview this year when it was interupted to show José Mourinho’s arrival at Lisbon airport

—In August Gerry McCann walked out of a Spanish current affairs programme after being asked questions about the police inquiry into the disappearance of his daughter Madeleine

Source: Times archives

Times Recommends

• Michael Jackson: Not the final chapter
• Indian Army spends10m rupees on golf buggies
• Brüno toned down for 15 rating