French President Nicholas Sarkozy is known for speaking his mind. But this time he may have said too much. Left-wing French paper Liberation is reporting that in a private luncheon with French MPs the president personally insulted American President Obama, German Chancellor Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero.

With regards to Obama, the president told French MPs that the young president is inexperienced as exhibited by his vagueness and hesitant nature. Obama is “not always up to standard on decision-making or efficiency”, the president has reported to have said by a attending guest.

Then it was Merkel. Sarkozy stated that she “had no choice but to come round to my position” on dealing with Europe’s economic crisis.

As for Spain’s premier, he received the worst treatment. Sarkozy deemed him “perhaps not very intelligent.”

Was the president really bashing his counterparts, or is this just a matter of words out of context?

The words were leaked by a guest from the opposition Socialist party who clearly wanted to cause the president some embarrassment. And Hervé Mariton, a deputy from Sarkozy’s UMP, corroborated the words, but he added that they have been misrepresented. Mariton is a critic of Sarkozy so his contention that the words have been taken out of context is probably true.

While the French president is believed to have called Obama inexperience, Mariton corroborates that language and an not entirely unjustified observation, the president also praised Obama for his “subtle mind” and his “very intelligent, very charismatic” manner.

The language with regards to Merkel stands on its own, it is just an assessment, perhaps immodest and patronizing, that it was Sarkozy that brought his neighbor to his side. Not the most offensive statement, but certainly condescending.

What about Zapatero’s lack of intelligence? Sarkozy was just trying to make the point that sometimes intelligence is not the most important thing in politics, as opposed to vision and motivations. So, the president was saying Zapatero is “perhaps not very intelligent,” but still a good leader.

Fortunately for Sarkozy, as his words were re-heard in context that president has been spared any tension with France’s allies.

Source: French president criticises world leaders.