More on Nick & Jacques
Because it is a weekly magazine, sometimes The Economist is a little behind in the news,

"Six months ago, la chiraquie—the president’s circle—was bent on finding a loyal successor to Mr Chirac, and, above all, on keeping out Nicolas Sarkozy, the ambitious finance minister. Today, fretful for their own survival, former loyalists on the UMP backbenches have begun to desert the president. Roselyne Bachelot, Mr Chirac’s spokesman for the 2002 presidential elections, says the party needs Mr Sarkozy. Alain Madelin, the former pro-market leader, has swung behind him. “Sarkozy’s the best chance we have,” says one UMP backbencher formerly in the Chirac camp. This week Mr Chirac said that he was ready to acquiesce in Mr Sarkozy’s taking over the party."

Just yesterday Le Monde was saying that Jacques wasn't too thrilled about Nick's moves; i.e., Jacques would agree to Nick's presidency of the UMP if Nick leaves the goverment. Today Helen's got the details.
While reading all this, keep in mind that, according to recent surveys, Nick's the most popular politician in France nowadays.