Nicolas Sarkozy, who was president of France between 2007 and 2012, is a figure who mixes power, controversy and legal proceedings.
Sarkozy, who was convicted and sentenced last month, is the first former French leader to be jailed since Nazi collaborator Marshal Philippe Petain after World War II.
Sarkozy’s conviction ended years of legal battles over allegations that his 2007 campaign received millions in cash from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was later overthrown and killed during the Arab Spring uprisings.
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Trajectory
Son of a Hungarian immigrant and a French mother of Greek-Jewish origin, Sarkozy grew up in Paris and graduated in law.
His career began as mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, a wealthy suburb of Paris, in 1983. He was Budget Minister and Interior Minister, in which role he took a tough stance against crime and illegal immigration, including the controversial mass deportation of Roma.
During his government, he implemented unpopular economic reforms, such as increasing the minimum retirement age and making working hours more flexible, in addition to playing an active role in the European response to the 2008 global financial crisis.
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“Bling-bling”
Sarkozy became known for his energetic and sometimes controversial leadership style, which earned him the nickname “bling-bling”. His stance, considered by many to be excessively exhibitionist and untraditional, marked his mandate.
In 2008, during an agricultural fair, he lost his temper with a man who refused to greet him, even calling him a “scoundrel” in a rude expression.
His public image was also reinforced by his marriage to singer Carla Bruni, in 2008, with whom he had a daughter.
On the international stage, Sarkozy was a close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and an admirer of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
He also led the French military intervention in Libya in 2011, which contributed to Gaddafi’s downfall, although the country later descended into internal conflict.
Judgments
Since his defeat to socialist François Hollande in the 2012 elections, Sarkozy’s reputation has been damaged by criminal investigations.
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Last year, France’s highest court upheld a conviction for corruption and influence peddling, ordering him to wear an electronic ankle bracelet for a year, a first for a former French head of state.
Also last year, an appeals court upheld a separate illegal campaign financing conviction stemming from his failed 2012 re-election bid. A final ruling from France’s highest court on that case is expected next month.
In September, Sarkozy was found guilty of criminal conspiracy and sentenced to five years in prison for efforts by close aides to obtain resources from Libya for his 2007 presidential bid during the government of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
