YET AGAIN, French president Nicolas Sarkozy has proven to be his own worst enemy, shooting himself in the foot by insulting three of his closest allies.

France’s “little big man” should have known that his remarks, delivered at a bipartisan lunch this week, would be leaked to the press. But he couldn’t resist accusing Barack Obama of inexperience, Angela Merkel of copying himself, Nicolas Sarkozy, and José Luis Zapatero of being a bit dim.

Mr Sarkozy initially praised Mr Obama, calling him “a subtle mind, very intelligent and very charismatic.” Then came the “but”: “He was elected only two months ago and he’s never run a ministry in his life . . .” The US leader “is not always up to scratch on decision-making and efficiency”.

Fortunately, Mr Sarkozy was there to show Mr Obama the way. “I told him: ‘I think you haven’t really understood what we did on carbon dioxide. You made a speech; you’ll have to act’.”

Courrier International magazine cruelly sums up the way Mr Sarkozy has been overshadowed by the new US president. “The Hyperpresident [the real one]” says the front-page headline over a photograph of Mr Obama looking handsome and visionary.

As for German chancellor Angela Merkel: “When she realised the state of her banks and her automobile industry, she had no choice but to rally to my position,” Mr Sarkozy told two dozen French parliamentarians.

Mr Sarkozy’s remarks about the Spanish prime minister José Luis Zapatero provoked the strongest reaction. Over dessert, Mr Sarkozy noted with satisfaction that the Spanish government has just banned advertising on public television stations, like he did.

A socialist deputy made an ambiguous comment about Mr Zapatero and Mr Sarkozy followed up, comparing the Spaniard to the former French socialist leader Lionel Jospin.

“He may not be very intelligent,” Mr Sarkozy allegedly said of Mr Zapatero. “Me, I know people who were very intelligent and who didn’t make it to the second round of the presidential election.”

When Libération newspaper published an account of the lunch, the Élysée and luncheon participants were inundated with phone calls from French and international media.

Mr Sarkozy’s office denied the comment about Mr Zapatero, but not those about Mr Obama and Dr Merkel. Several parliamentarians confirmed they had heard them, although some said they were taken out of context.

In Spain, the quotes nearly created a diplomatic incident. Mariano Rajoy, the leader of the right-wing Popular Party, said: “Sarkozy may be right.” But, added a lower-ranking party official: “Zapatero is our president and whatever happens, if he’s attacked from abroad, we should defend him.”

Imagine the ambiance during Mr Sarkozy’s official visit to Madrid on April 27th-28th!

Mr Sarkozy’s luncheon indiscretions are only the most recent manifestation of his superiority complex. In recent days he called two officials from his right-wing UMP “amateurs” when a draft law on internet piracy failed to pass at its first reading.

He threw a temper tantrum at this week’s cabinet meeting because several government ministers had spoken to journalists of posts they hope to obtain in the next cabinet reshuffle.

Despite his best efforts to cajole, intimidate or muzzle the press, Mr Sarkozy has an image problem. The British Daily Mail humiliated him by posting on its website a series of photographs of the vertically-challenged French leader standing on his tippy-toes beside Mr Obama at the Nato summit.

The satirical Canard Enchaîné put one on its front page, with the presidential feet encircled.

Thanks to the Canard, we know what the French president thinks of journalists. French media last month reported that a banker who had hosted the French first couple in Mexico was suspected of laundering drug money. “Journalists are zeros,” an enraged Mr Sarkozy reportedly said. “You have to spit in their faces, walk on them, crush them. They are bandits.

“Worse than bandits. Bandits at least have some morality.”