Sarkozy released from hospital

PRESIDENT Sarkozy is to leave the Val-de-Grâce hospital in Paris today, 24 hours after he was taken ill while jogging.

The president was taken in on Sunday afternoon after feeling ill while jogging in Versailles. His heart was monitored by doctors and he underwent various tests.

He said he was “fine” today, however some tasks have been delegated to lighten his workload this week.

The President, 54, regularly cycles and jogs. On July 3, the Elysée reported he had a clean bill of health after a batch of normal test results.

In France the president’s state of health is a sensitive subject. While entitled to a private life, the public also has a right to certain information about their head of state.

Like other French presidents before him, Sarkozy said in his campaign that he would publish regular updates on his state of health.

He published one this year but not in 2008.

Former presidents Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and François Mitterrand never gave reports, despite saying they would. It was later revealed that Mitterrand had spent most of his time in office with cancer.

Photo: Medef