Nicolas Sarkozy

**Nicolas Sarkozy** (born 28 January 1955) is a French politician. He was the 23rd President of France and, because of that position, _ex officio_ Co-Prince of Andorra from 16 May 2007 to 15 May 2012 succeeding Jacques Chirac.

He was the leader of the UMP, and was elected President of the French Republic on 6 May 2007. He defeated Ségolène Royal, of the Socialist Party.

## Political career

Nicolas Sarkozy was known for his conservative law and order politics and his admiration for a new economic model for France during his presidency. He wanted a more liberalised economy for France because he saw the United States and the United Kingdom as positive examples. Until 26 March 2007, he was the Minister of the Interior of France. His nickname **Sarko** was used by both supporters and opponents. On 6 May 2012, Sarkozy was defeated in the 2012 election by Socialist François Hollande by a margin of 3.2%, or 1,139,983 votes. After leaving the office, Sarkozy pretended to retire from political life. As a former president, Sarkozy is entitled to _de jure_ membership in the Constitutional Council. He retired from the council a few months later.

## Corruption trial

On 23 November 2020, a corruption trial started. He was accused for an attempted bribery of a judge. The trial was postponed until November 26, following a request from one of his co-defendants for health reasons.

On March 1, 2021, a court in Paris found former Sarkozy guilty of corruption, trading in influence in a wiretapping and illegal data exchange. Sarkozy and his two co-defendants were sentenced to three years, two of them suspended, and one in prison. On December 18, 2024, the Court of Cassation rejected Nicolas Sarkozy's appeal in cassation and the co-defendants, thus making Nicolas Sarkozy's conviction final, who immediately announced that they would refer the matter to the European Court of Human Rights.

In September 2025, Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy for his "corruption pact" with former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and received a five-year prison sentence.

### Official websites

- Nicolas Sarkozy Construire Ensemble—Official web site of the presidential campaign
- Website of the UMP, Sarkozy's party
- Nicolas Sarkozy–Official Website
- Supporters de Sarkozy–Official Website of Nicolas Sarkozy's supporters

### Press

- _Charlie Rose show 02.02.07_ (video interview at Place Beauvau, Paris with PBS journalist Charlie Rose, 30.01.07)
- _Sarkozy takes over Chirac's UMP party_ (BBC)
- _Profile: Nicolas Sarkozy_ (BBC)
- _Nicolas Sarkozy: French Choose the American Way?_  by David Storobin
- Vive this difference  by Suzanne Fields
- France's chance, _Economist_, 12 April 2007
- Letter From Europe- Round 1  Jane Kramer, _The New Yorker_, April 23, 2007

### Related contents

- Some Nicolas Sarkozy's quotations  (French)
- Sarkozy 2007 — Website to promote Nicolas Sarkozy's candidacy in 2007

## Infobox (president)

- **honorific prefix**: _His Excellency_
- **honorific suffix**: _The President of France_
- **name**: Nicolas Sarkozy
- **image**: Nicolas Sarkozy 20220927.jpg
- **caption**: Sarkozy in 2022
- **order**: 23rd
- **office**: President of the French Republic
- **term start**: 16 May 2007
- **term end**: 15 May 2012
- **primeminister**: François Fillon
- **predecessor**: Jacques Chirac
- **successor**: François Hollande
- **office1**: Co-Prince of Andorra
- **primeminister1**: Albert Pintat
Jaume Bartumeu
Pere López Agràs <small>(Acting)</small>
Antoni Martí
- **1blankname1**: Representative
- **1namedata1**: Philippe Massoni
Emmanuelle Mignon
Christian Frémont
- **term start1**: 16 May 2007
- **term end1**: 15 May 2012
Served with Joan Enric Vives Sicília
- **predecessor1**: Jacques Chirac
- **successor1**: François Hollande
- **birth place**: Paris, France
- **nationality**: French people, French
- **spouse**: Marie-Dominique Culioli
(m. 1982-1996)
Cécilia Ciganer-Albéniz
(m. 1996-2007)
Carla Bruni
(m. 2008-present)
- **party**: The Republicans (France), The Republicans (2015–present)
- **relations**: Guillaume Sarkozy (brother)
Olivier Sarkozy (half-brother)
- **children**: Pierre, Jean Sarkozy, Jean, Louis, Giulia
- **residence**: Élysée Palace
- **alma mater**: University of Paris X: Nanterre
- **occupation**: politician, lawyer
- **signature**: Nicolas Sarkozy signature.svg
- **website**: [http://www.sarkozy.fr/home/ sarkozy.fr]
- **otherparty**: Union of Democrats for the Republic (1974–1976)
Rally for the Republic (1976–2002)
Union for a Popular Movement (2002–2015)