Sarkozy, Nicolas << sahr koh ZEE, nee koh LAH >> (1955-…), served as president of France from 2007 to 2012. He was the leader of the Union for a Popular Movement (known by its French initials, UMP), a moderately conservative political party. Sarkozy supported economic and social reforms throughout the country, as well as tough policies on crime and immigration. Sarkozy lost his 2012 reelection bid to Socialist Party candidate François Hollande.
Nicolas Paul Stéphane Sarkozy de Nagy-Bocsa was born on Jan. 28, 1955, in Paris. His father was an immigrant from Hungary, and his mother was of Greek Jewish and French Catholic ancestry. Sarkozy earned degrees in political science and law. He was mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, a town near Paris, from 1983 to 2002. Sarkozy served in various posts in the French National Assembly, including minister for the budget; minister of communication; minister of the economy, finance, and industry; and minister of the interior and land management.
In 2004, Sarkozy was elected UMP leader. In 2007, he defeated Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal in the presidential election. Sarkozy led the country during a global economic slowdown that began about 2008. Also in 2008, Sarkozy gained international attention for his marriage to the model and singer Carla Bruni. He briefly retired from political life after leaving the presidency. From 2014 to 2016, Sarkozy served again as UMP leader. The UMP was renamed The Republicans in 2015.
In late 2020, Sarkozy underwent a trial in a corruption case. He was accused of attempting to bribe a French judge. In March 2021, Sarkozy was convicted and sentenced to a year in prison. Sarkozy also underwent a trial for allegations that he had illegally obtained millions of euros in funding for his 2012 campaign from Libyan strongman Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi . In September 2021, a court convicted Sarkozy of illegal campaign financing and sentenced him to a year of house arrest.
