Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Nicolas Sarkozy
How Nicolas Sarkozy built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Nicolas Sarkozy, a French politician, held the office of President of France from 2007 to 2012. His presidency was marked by significant events including the global financial crisis, which he attempted to mitigate through national and international efforts. He also pursued reforms in areas such as pensions, immigration, and labor laws. Sarkozy's policies and leadership style often sparked debate, reflecting a blend of conservative and liberal approaches. Since leaving office, he has remained a prominent, though sometimes controversial, figure in French politics.
6 hours ago : Sarkozy's Incarceration: Macron's Visit, Freedom's End, and Supporters' Protest Against Justice.
Nicolas Sarkozy faced incarceration after a visit from Emmanuel Macron. Sarkozy declared he wasn't afraid of prison during his final days of freedom. His supporters protested what they perceived as unjust treatment by the justice system.
1945: Policy Announcements After Rioting
In 1945, in the aftermath of rioting, Sarkozy announced future policies focused on immigrant selection, greater immigrant tracking, and a reform of the 1945 ordinance regarding government justice measures for young delinquents.
1983: Mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine
In 1983, Nicolas Sarkozy became the Mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine.
1983: Elected Mayor
In 1983, Nicolas Sarkozy was elected as the mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, becoming the youngest mayor of a town with over 50,000 residents in France.
1988: Deputy in National Assembly
In 1988, Nicolas Sarkozy became a deputy in the National Assembly.
1993: Minister for the Budget
In 1993, Nicolas Sarkozy became the Minister for the Budget in the cabinet of Prime Minister Édouard Balladur.
1995: Minister for the Budget
In 1995, Nicolas Sarkozy continued serving as Minister for the Budget in the cabinet of Prime Minister Édouard Balladur.
1995: Support of Edouard Balladur
In 1995, Nicolas Sarkozy had supported Edouard Balladur for President.
1995: Backed Balladur for President
In 1995, Nicolas Sarkozy supported Édouard Balladur for President of France, opposing Jacques Chirac.
1995: End of Term as Minister of Budget
In 1995, Nicolas Sarkozy's term as Minister of the Budget concluded.
1996: End of Term as Budget Minister
In 1996, Nicolas Sarkozy's term as Minister for the Budget concluded.
1997: Return after Defeat
In 1997, Nicolas Sarkozy returned after the right-wing defeat at the parliamentary election, becoming the number two candidate of the RPR.
1999: RPR Leadership
In 1999, Nicolas Sarkozy took the leadership of the Neo-Gaullist party RPR after Philippe Séguin resigned, but later lost it after poor election results.
2002: End of Mayoral Term
In 2002, Nicolas Sarkozy concluded his term as mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine.
2002: Resignation as Deputy
In 2002, Nicolas Sarkozy had to resign as a deputy when he became minister.
2002: Minister of the Interior Appointment
In 2002, Nicolas Sarkozy was appointed as Minister of the Interior in the cabinet of Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
May 2003: Foundation of the French Council of the Muslim Faith
In May 2003, Sarkozy supported the foundation of the Conseil français du culte musulman (French Council of the Muslim Faith), a private non-profit organization intended to represent French Muslims and provide a legitimate body to engage with the French government.
April 2004: Finance Minister Appointment
In April 2004, Nicolas Sarkozy became the Finance Minister.
November 2004: Leader of the UMP
In November 2004, Nicolas Sarkozy became the leader of the UMP with 85% of the vote, subsequently resigning as Finance Minister.
2004: Leader of UMP
In 2004, Nicolas Sarkozy became the leader of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party.
2004: Sarkozy Co-Authors Book on Religion and the Republic
In 2004, Nicolas Sarkozy co-authored "La République, les religions, l'espérance" advocating for reduced separation of church and state and government subsidies for mosques.
March 2005: Re-elected to National Assembly
On March 2005, Nicolas Sarkozy was re-elected to the National Assembly.
May 2005: Rumor of Reappointment
On 31 May 2005, there were rumours of Nicolas Sarkozy being reappointed Minister of the Interior in the government of Dominique de Villepin.
June 2005: Reappointed as Interior Minister
On 2 June 2005, Nicolas Sarkozy was officially announced as the Minister of the Interior in the government of Dominique de Villepin.
September 2005: Call for Radical Changes in Economic and Social Policies
Throughout 2005, including an interview with Le Monde on 8 September 2005, Sarkozy advocated for radical changes in France's economic and social policies, claiming that the French had been misled by false promises for 30 years.
2005: UMP Presidency and European Constitution Referendum
In 2005, Sarkozy, as president of UMP, saw the party's membership increase significantly. He supported a "yes" vote in the French referendum on the European Constitution, but the "No" vote ultimately prevailed.
September 2006: Sarkozy criticizes French opposition to Iraq War
In September 2006, while at the French-American Foundation in Washington, D.C., Sarkozy criticized the way Chirac and Dominique de Villepin expressed France's opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, denouncing what he termed "French arrogance".
2006: Involvement in DADVSI Bill Adoption
In early 2006, Sarkozy intervened in the adoption of the controversial DADVSI bill regarding French copyright law, organizing meetings between involved parties due to divisions within his party. He was later accused of unofficially supporting amendments that enacted strong penalties against peer-to-peer systems.
January 2007: UMP Candidate Selection for 2007 Presidential Election
On 14 January 2007, Sarkozy was chosen by the UMP as their candidate in the 2007 presidential election, running unopposed and winning 98 percent of the votes from 69 percent of participating UMP members.
February 2007: Televised Debate and Policy Positions
In February 2007, Sarkozy appeared on a televised debate on TF1 and expressed support for affirmative action and the freedom to work overtime. He also advocated for civil unions and inheritance rights for same-sex partners, despite opposing same-sex marriage.
April 2007: First Round of Presidential Election
On 22 April 2007, in the first round of the presidential election, Sarkozy received 31.18 per cent of the votes, placing him ahead of Ségolène Royal of the Socialists, who received 25.87 percent. Sarkozy won the election in the second round and stressed the need for France's modernisation and called for national unity.
May 2007: Sarkozy Elected President of France
On 6 May 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy was elected President of the Fifth Republic of France, becoming the 23rd President in French history.
June 2007: UMP Majority at Legislative Election and Inheritance Tax Revocation
In June 2007, Sarkozy's party, the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), won a majority at the legislative election. In July, the UMP majority, seconded by the Nouveau Centre, ratified one of Sarkozy's electoral promises, to partially revoke the inheritance tax.
June 2007: G8 Summit and CO2 Emission Goals
On 8 June 2007, during the 33rd G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Sarkozy set a goal of reducing French CO2 emissions by 50 percent by 2050 to prevent global warming. He also pushed forward Dominique Strauss-Kahn as the European nominee to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
July 2007: Same-Sex Partner Inheritance Law Voted
In July 2007, the law concerning inheritance for same-sex partners, which Sarkozy advocated for, was voted in.
July 2007: Extradition of Bulgarian Nurses and Agreements with Libya
On 24 July 2007, Sarkozy announced the extradition of Bulgarian nurses detained in Libya. In exchange, France signed security, health care, and immigration pacts with Muammar Gaddafi, along with a $230 million MILAN antitank missile sale.
2007: Pledge to Strengthen International Relations
During his 2007 presidential campaign, Sarkozy promised a strengthening of the entente cordiale with the United Kingdom and closer cooperation with the United States.
2007: Sarkozy Nicknamed Hyper-President
Following his election in 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy was dubbed "Hyper-president" by some French media, reflecting his desire to control both foreign and domestic policy, a departure from the traditional focus of previous presidents.
2007: Support for Canada-EU Free Trade Agreement
In 2007, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, along with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Quebec Premier Jean Charest, voiced support for a Canada – EU free trade agreement.
2007: President of France
In 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy began his term as President of France.
2007: End of Leadership of UMP
In 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy's leadership of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party ended.
2007: End of UMP Presidency
In 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy's term as president of the Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP) concluded.
2007: Published book ahead of 2007 campaign
In 2007, not related to the provided article, Nicolas Sarkozy published a book ahead of his campaign.
2007: Sarkozy invites Gaddafi to France and agrees to sell Airbus aircraft
In 2007, shortly after his inauguration, Nicolas Sarkozy invited Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to France despite objections. During the visit, France agreed to sell Libya 21 Airbus aircraft and signed a nuclear cooperation agreement, initiating negotiations for more than a dozen Dassault Rafale fighter jets and military helicopters.
April 2008: Opposition to NATO Membership for Ukraine and Georgia
In April 2008, Sarkozy opposed George W. Bush in granting membership in NATO for Ukraine and Georgia during the organization's Bucharest summit, forming a common front with Germany's Angela Merkel and Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
July 2008: Constitutional Reforms Passed by Parliament
On 21 July 2008, the French parliament passed constitutional reforms, a key pledge of Sarkozy's presidential campaign. The reforms introduced a two-term limit for the presidency, ended the president's right of collective pardon, and granted parliament greater power.
July 2008: Modernization of the Economy Law
On 23 July 2008, parliament voted the "loi de modernisation de l'économie" (Modernization of the Economy Law), which loosened restrictions on retail prices and reduced limitations on the creation of businesses. The Government also made changes to long-standing French work-hour regulations, allowing employers to negotiate overtime with employees and making all hours worked past the traditional French 35-hour week tax-free.
October 2008: Address to the National Assembly of Quebec
In October 2008, Sarkozy became the first French President to address the National Assembly of Quebec. While speaking out against Quebec separatism, he recognized Quebec as a nation within Canada, emphasizing the close relationship between France and both Canada and Quebec.
December 2008: EU Council Presidency and Meeting with the Dalai Lama
In December 2008, as part of France's EU Council Presidency, Sarkozy met the Dalai Lama in Poland, outraging China and leading to the indefinite postponement of the China-EU summit. Sarkozy also aimed for EU approval of a progressive energy package during his presidency.
2008: Response to the Financial Crisis
As a result of the 2008 financial crisis, Sarkozy returned to state interventionism, declaring that "laissez-faire capitalism is over" and denouncing the "dictatorship of the market". He also pledged to create 100,000 state-subsidized jobs.
January 2009: Ceasefire Plan for Gaza Strip Conflict
On 5 January 2009, Sarkozy called for a ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip Conflict, jointly proposed with Egyptian ex-President Hosni Mubarak. The plan envisioned aid delivery to Gaza and talks with Israel on border security.
September 2009: Warning at the U.N. Climate Summit
At the U.N. Climate Summit on 22 September 2009, Sarkozy warned that "We are on the path to failure if we continue to act as we have."
2010: Pension Reform
In 2010, Nicolas Sarkozy initiated the pension reform in France.
March 2011: France actively engages against Gaddafi
In March 2011, Nicolas Sarkozy, after facing criticism for his initial reluctance to support revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, and influenced by Bernard-Henri Levy, advocated for France's active involvement against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Sarkozy demanded Gaddafi's resignation amidst the Libyan civil war. On March 10, 2011, Sarkozy welcomed emissaries from the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) to the Elysée Palace and promised them a no-fly zone over Libya and French military aid. France played a key role in the subsequent UN resolution.
March 2011: Military Intervention in Libya Begins
On March 19, 2011, Nicolas Sarkozy officially announced the commencement of a French-led military intervention in Libya. This decision was largely supported by the French political establishment and public.
May 2012: Sarkozy Loses Presidential Election
In May 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy lost the presidential election runoff to François Hollande, receiving approximately 48.38% of the vote compared to Hollande's 51.62%.
2012: Defeated in Presidential Election
In 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy was defeated by François Hollande in the presidential election.
2012: End of Presidency
In 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy's term as President of France came to an end.
2012: Sarkozy Concedes Election and Leaves Office
In 2012, after his defeat in the presidential election, Nicolas Sarkozy conceded to François Hollande and asked his supporters to respect the victory. He invited Hollande to his last Victory in Europe Day commemoration on May 8, and his last day as President was May 15.
September 2014: Sarkozy Announces Political Comeback
In September 2014, Nicolas Sarkozy announced his return to politics and his intention to run for chairman of the UMP party.
November 2014: Sarkozy Elected Chairman of UMP Party
In November 2014, Nicolas Sarkozy was elected as the chairman of the UMP party.
2014: Return as UMP Leader
In 2014, Nicolas Sarkozy returned to politics as the leader of the UMP.
2014: Sarkozy Considers Private Equity Career
In 2014, after leaving office, Nicolas Sarkozy briefly explored a career in private equity, securing a €250 million commitment from the Qatar Investment Authority. However, he abandoned these plans when he decided to make a political comeback later that year.
March 2015: UMP wins local elections
In March 2015, the UMP, led by Nicolas Sarkozy, secured victories in over two-thirds of the 102 local départements during nationwide elections.
January 2016: Sarkozy Publishes "La France pour la vie"
In January 2016, Nicolas Sarkozy released the book "La France pour la vie." Despite claims that it wasn't a campaign tool, it was widely viewed as preparation for a presidential run.
November 2016: Sarkozy eliminated from Republican party nomination contest
In November 2016, despite attempting to challenge for the presidency in 2017, Sarkozy was eliminated from the Republican party nomination contest.
2016: Retirement from Public Life
In 2016, Nicolas Sarkozy retired from public life after his defeat in the Republican presidential primary.
2017: Sarkozy's attempted presidential challenge
Despite the events that occurred in July 2014, Sarkozy attempted to challenge for the presidency in 2017, but was unsuccessful.
April 2022: Sarkozy Endorses Macron in Election
In April 2022, despite his retirement from politics, Nicolas Sarkozy endorsed Emmanuel Macron in the French presidential election.
2050: CO2 Emission Goals
On 8 June 2007, during the 33rd G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Sarkozy set a goal of reducing French CO2 emissions by 50 percent by 2050 to prevent global warming. He also pushed forward Dominique Strauss-Kahn as the European nominee to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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