15 Facts About Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy

15 Facts About Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is celebrated for several notable achievements. His most prominent success when he was president was restoring the trust of France as an ally to the US.

Furthermore, his pro-American enthusiasm earned him the nickname ‘Sarkozy the American’ in the political arena. As a result of the same, he was honored to address a joint session of the US Congress.

Over and above that, he is applauded for leading the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) political party. He also served in a few ministerial positions before he became president. Read on for more.

Here are the 15 Facts About Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

1. Nicolas Sarkozy has Hungarian roots

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This former French president was born in Paris on 28 January 1955. His father was of Hungarian descent and his mother was French with some Greek-Jewish heritage.

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2. Nicolas Sarkozy assumed Presidential office in 2007

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After the French presidential elections in 2007, Sarkozy emerged as the winner. Thus he took over office on 16 May 2007. In the history of France, he is remembered as the 23^rd president.

Additionally, according to the French Fifth Republic regime which rose to power on 4 October 1958, he is the sixth individual to be elected president. His tenure ran from 2007 until 15 May 2012.

3. Sarkozy rose to power via the Union for a Popular Movement

The Union for a Popular Movement pushed him to the presidency. This party (UPM) was founded in 2002 by Jacques Chirac who also served as French President from 1995 to 2007. Sarkozy at one time served as the party’s leader.

4. He has joined at least four political parties

During the presidential leadership of Nicolas Sarkozy, he was a member of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). He served as its leader from 2004 until 2007. After the party was dissolved in 2015, it was succeeded by the Republican Party (France). Sarkozy is a Republican since 2015.

Before joining UMP, he was affiliated with the Rally for the Republic from 1976 to 2002. He also belonged to the Union of Democrats for the Republic from 1974 until 1976.

5. Sarkozy was honored to address the U.S. Congress

The Official White House Photostream, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In November 2007 while on a visit to the US, he was given the respect to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress. In his speech, he praised the cordial relationship between the two countries. Further, he pledged his support in strengthening the ties between France and the US.

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6. He led two ministerial dockets

Nicolas Sarkozy served as the Minister of the Interior from 2002 up to 2004. From 2004 to 2005, he was the Minister of Finance. In 2005 he returned to his role as the Minister of the Interior and held office until 2007.

7. Sarkozy promoted green policy when he was president

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Throughout his presidential administration, he sought to advance France to a clean environment. During the 33rd G8 summit, he declared his commitment to reducing CO2 emissions by 50 percent in France by the year 2050. Moreover, in 2010 reports by Yale and Columbia universities ranked France as the top respecter of the G20 relating to the environment.

8. His presidential reign saw tax reductions

One of his electoral promises was to put in place a partial revoking of the inheritance tax. In July 2007, this goal was accomplished by the UMP majority supported by the Nouveau Centre.

Furthermore, the UMP legislative majority gave a budget proposal aimed at the reduction of taxes for the middle class. Thus it was expected it would in return trigger GDP growth.

9. He also negotiated for the release of hostages

After Nicolas assumed office, he started negotiations with the Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla group in that country. This rebel group had held hostages that included politicians.

Sarkozy also signed security, health care, and immigration pacts with Muammar Gaddafi. This was in exchange for the release of Bulgarian nurses that were detained in Libya for ethical practice issues.

10. Sarkozy has married three times

(Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This former French president’s first marriage was to Marie-Dominique Culioli. They got married on 23 September 1982. They were together until their separation for several years then their divorce happened in 1996. They got two sons together, Pierre who was born in 1985, and Jean born in 1986.

To add on, in October 1996, Sarkozy married Cécilia Ciganer-Albéniz. She is a former fashion model and public relations personnel. They divorced on 15 October 2007, a few months after he assumed office as president. Their union birthed a son Louis, who was born on 23 April 1997.

Afterward, he met Italian-born model, songwriter cum singer Carla Bruni and they tied the knot on 2 February 2008. They have a daughter called Giulia, who was born on 19 October 2011.

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11. He is a law major

He is a master’s graduate from the Paris Nanterre University where he graduated in private and business law. Before joining politics he practiced family and business law.

12. Sarkozy was famed for his pro-American stand

derivative work: Gage (talk)Obama and Sarkozy in Strasbourg April 2009.jpg: picture taken by Pete Souza, official White House photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

He was dubbed ‘Sarkozy the American’ because of his unwavering pro-American policies. His admiration for the US was clear in his speech and deeds. He was also a close ally of US President George W. Bush.

13. He took a tough stance on immigration

Sarkozy’s presidential campaign in 2012 inclined toward immigration policies. As the incumbent at the time, he sought re-election but lost to François Hollande. During his campaign, he promised to strengthen immigration policies by cutting immigration to France by 50 percent as well as limiting privileges of the legal migrants.

14. Sarkozy penned his memoir in 2016

He published his book France pour la Vie in January 2016. Later on, in August of the same year, he announced his interest in the 2016 presidential race.

15. He chose to leave active politics in 2017

Thomas Bresson from Belfort, France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nicolas Sarkozy first declared his retirement from public life following his defeat in the 2012 presidential elections. In 2014 he made a comeback to politics and in November of that year, he ran for and was elected as chairman of the UMP party. He served in such a capacity until the party was dissolved in 2015.

What’s more, in May 2015 UMP party changed its name to Republicans. Thus Nicolas expressed interest in the presidential race during the 2016 national elections. But he lost at the 2016 Republican presidential primary level. Hence, he declared his retirement from active political life in 2017.

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Here is a bonus fact:

16. He was convicted of corruption in 2021

The former head of state was found guilty of illegal campaign financing during his unsuccessful 2012 presidential quest. He was sentenced to a year in prison by a Paris court in March 2021.

Nicolas Sarkozy is an acclaimed force in the conservative politics of France though he is out of the public spotlight. His policies on tax reductions as well as the foreign networks that he established are a legacy that will live on for generations.