Nicolas Sarkozy

Nicolas Sarkozy (born 28 January 1955), born Nicolas Paul Stéphane Sarközy de Nagy-Bocsa 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.

 Notes 

 Other websites 
 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

Category:French Roman Catholics
Category:French lawyers
Category:Politicians from Paris
Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Category:Presidents of France
Category:Princes of Andorra
Category:1955 births
Category:Living people
Category:French Ministers of Finance
Category:French criminals
Category:21st-century presidents of France
Category:21st-century princes of Andorra