France’s Nicolas Sarkozy is back, but for how long?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy returns to the political stage on Monday to appeal for support for his debt-ridden party, as a poll suggests that three out of five French people are opposed to him running for office.
Mr Sarkozy is due to address an emergency meeting of his centre-right Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP) party which is threatened with bankruptcy after France’s top constitutional court rejected his expenses for his unsuccessful re-election campaign last year. The UMP has one month to find €11m (£9.47m), or half of the total campaign expenses which would otherwise have been reimbursed by the state, had the UMP not tried to exceed the legal limit it can claim.
A poll, in the Journal du Dimanche, found that 59 per cent of those surveyed did not want the former president, a polarising and impetuous figure who was known as the “hyper-president”, to compete in 2017. The same poll also said that seven out of 10 French think he will decide to run for another term.
Despite the court ruling being a devastating setback for Mr Sarkozy, his popularity with grassroots supporters was evident at a UMP gathering on Saturday. There, party leader, Jean-Francois Copé, announced that almost €11m had been raised since the party launched an appeal for donations following the court decision last week.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments