Sarkozy ‘going back to the bar’
The outgoing president plans to take up his old job as a lawyer, according to a close colleague
NICOLAS Sarkozy plans to take up his old job as an avocat (barrister), says one of his close associates.
Sarkozy joined the bar in the 1980s, specialising in business and family law. His communications adviser Franck Louvrier told Le Figaro he would be “taking up his practice” again.
The comment follows Sarkozy’s announcement to his campaign team yesterday that he is leaving politics. He said: “A page is turning for me. I will not be a candidate at the parliamentary elections, nor in elections to come.”
He deliberately did not say so explicitly on Sunday so as not to make the announcement too abrupt “like Lionel Jospin”, one close colleague reportedly said.
Sarkozy joked: “Don’t worry, I will be renewing my party membership card – but I am leaving the operational side.”
He said he hoped the press would now allow him to “live a bit normally”.
“I’m spied on; I hope I’ll be left in peace a bit,” he said, adding: “We’re not leaving each other completely; I will have the pleasure of seeing you again, to talk about the good old days.”
Le Parisien reports the outgoing president plans to take a holiday at Cap Nègre in his wife’s family home, after the ceremonial passing on of power to François Hollande next week.
His team will now be looking for a Paris office for him. As an ex-president he will have the right to free premises for life, and well as other perks like a driver and police protection.
• Today Sarkozy has invited Hollande to join him for ceremonies to mark the May 8 Armistice of the Second World War (Victory in Europe Day). The incoming president is reported to be pleased about the gesture and said it will give a “good image” and promote the feel of “reconciliation” he hopes to foster.
