Nicolas Sarkozy, born in Paris in 1955 to a Hungarian immigrant father and a French mother of Greek Jewish heritage, is a French politician and lawyer who served as President of France from 2007 to 2012.[1][2][3] He qualified as a lawyer in 1981 after studying political science at the Institut d'Études Politiques in Paris and began his career as a councilor in Neuilly-sur-Seine in 1977, becoming mayor there from 1983 to 2002.[1][3][4] Sarkozy held key government roles under conservative administrations, including Budget Minister and spokesperson (1993–1995), Interior Minister (2002–2004 and 2005–2007), and Finance Minister (2004–2005).[1][3][4] He led the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party from 2004 to 2007 and rebranded it as Les Républicains in 2015.[1][3] In 2007, he won the presidential election, defeating Socialist Ségolène Royal with 53% of the vote in the runoff, promising economic reforms like tax cuts, labor market liberalization, and closer U.S. ties.[1][3][4] Early achievements included tax relief on overtime, restrictions on strikes, and a constitutional limit to two presidential terms.[1] As president and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, Sarkozy advanced conservative policies on immigration and security, including a burqa ban.[6] He married singer Carla Bruni in 2008.[4] Post-presidency, he ran unsuccessfully in the 2016 Republican primary.[1] In recent years, Sarkozy faced legal challenges, becoming modern France's first former leader incarcerated following a 2025 conviction, marking a stark decline for the once-energetic figure nicknamed "President Bling-Bling."[6] He remains a polarizing conservative voice.[1][6]