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==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Sarkozy was born at [[Neuilly-sur-Seine]]. He married [[Jessica Sebaoun]] on September 10, 2008 at the town hall of Neuilly-sur-Seine. His wife is the daughter of Marc-André Sebaoun and Isabelle Maruani (born Darty). Maruani is heir to the large electronics company, [[Darty]] group. He has denied reports that he intends to convert to Judaism, Sebaoun's religion. The cartoonist [[Siné]] came under sharp criticism and was fired from his magazine after accusing Jean Sarkozy of converting out of ambition and being sued by the [[International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism]] (LICRA).<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/world/europe/05france.html New York Times],"A Scooter, a Sarkozy and Rancor Collide"</ref>
Sarkozy was born in [[Neuilly-sur-Seine]]. He got married to [[Jessica Sebaoun]] on September 10, 2008 at Neuilly-sur-Seine city hall. His wife is the daughter of Marc-André Sebaoun and Isabelle Maruani (nee Darty). Maruani is heir to a major electronics company, the [[Darty]] group. He has denied reports that he intends to convert to Judaism, Sebaoun's religion. The cartoonist [[Siné]] came under sharp criticism and was fired from his magazine after accusing Jean Sarkozy of converting out of ambition and being sued by the [[International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism]] (LICRA).<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/world/europe/05france.html New York Times],"A Scooter, a Sarkozy and Rancor Collide"</ref>


In 2007, ''[[Le Canard Enchainé]]'', a satirical weekly newspaper, reported that French police had gone to extraordinary lengths to try to find his scooter when it was stolen, including taking DNA samples from his helmet. The scooter was recovered in 10 days.<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080306.wwfrance06/BNStory/International Globe and Mail. Ibid.]</ref>
In 2007, ''[[Le Canard Enchainé]]'', a satirical weekly newspaper, reported that French police had gone to extraordinary lengths to try to find his scooter when it was stolen, including taking DNA samples from his helmet. The scooter was recovered in 10 days.<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080306.wwfrance06/BNStory/International Globe and Mail. Ibid.]</ref>

Revision as of 15:04, 10 January 2010

Jean Sarkozy
File:Jean Sarkozy in 2008.jpg
Born(1986-09-01)September 1, 1986
 France, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris
NationalityFrench
OccupationStudent / Politician
Known forSon of Nicolas Sarkozy

Jean Sarkozy de Nagy-Bocsa (born 1 September 1986) is the son of the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy from his first marriage, to Marie-Dominique Culioli. Jean is a regional councillor in the city of Neuilly-sur-Seine, France and (still) registered as a 1st year Law student at Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University in 2007. He is a backroom activist for his father's Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), a right-wing party.[1]

Neuilly-sur-Seine mayorship

Nicolas Sarkozy attempted to parachute David Martinon, his protégé and presidential spokesman, into the mayorship of Neuilly-sur-Seine, the richest town in France, where the president had formerly served as mayor. It was seen as one of the UMP's safest seats because 86% of the voters supported Sarkozy in the 2007 presidential election. Jean Sarkozy was asked to persuade the voters to support his father's choice. After a poll showed that Martinon was so unpopular that he would lose the election, Jean publicly broke rank and said it was impossible to continue backing his father's mayoral choice. He and other politicians from the president's centre-right UMP party decided to campaign on their own ticket.[2] Martinon stepped down as the party’s candidate for mayor. Jean Sarkozy announced he was running for office himself as the UMP candidate for regional councillor in the electoral district of Neuilly-Sud. He was born, raised and now lives in Neuilly-Sud, which includes the Bagatelle quarter, a neighbourhood of 27,000 people, the richest part of Neuilly. He faced three other candidates, Marie Brannens from the Socialist Party, and candidates from the Democratic Movement (MoDem) and the Front National.[3]

La Défense controversy

File:Esplanade-de-la-defense.jpg
La Défense on the Northern circular boulevard.

In 2009 Jean was offered to become head of Epad, the development agency for La Défense, just west of Paris. La Défense is an important office center, with 43 high-rise buildings, and its development agency controls an annual budget of more than 1 billion euro. French and many international newspapers reported this as a new case of nepotism. Much criticism has been made about the obvious lack of academic qualities and professional experience for such a high position. An online petition against the nomination has been diffused in all of the major news outlets and receives some 10,000 signatures a day.[4] In October 2009, a survey found that 64% of French people oppose the arrival of Sarkozy at the Epad.[5]

The controversy prompted various ironic comments from the international press. The Daily Mail noted that "when asked whether the President's son might be a bit young for such a relatively prestigious job, [EPAD's current president] responded using the traditional French political foil of quoting classic literature: 'In souls nobly born, valour does not depend upon age'".[6] The Times calls the nomination an "astonishing act of nepotism by Nicolas Sarkozy" and reminds that "[Jean], who is repeating his second year of undergraduate law at the Sorbonne, after having repeated the first year. was elected to a Neuilly seat on the notoriously sleaze-ridden departement council last year. He was immediately given the job of heading Dad's Union for a Popular Movement on the body."[7]

The President of Medef replied to these criticisms saying she believed it was "fantastic that a young and motivated man" may want to be at the head of the largest business district in France.[8] Likewise, Nicolas Sarkozy defended his son by saying that "it's never good when someone is attacked in an excessive manner for no reason",[9] not long however after having been mocked by some French medias for having fiercely underlined during an unrelated speech on high school reform that "what matters in France to succeed does not anymore relate to birth privileges, rather, to succeed, it is important to work hard and to have demonstrated significant skills at school, at work."[10] Jean Sarkozy said he is not going to give up the position[11], and demanded on French television not to be judged on his name, but on his acts.[12] He received the support of David Douillet, a former champion of the world of Judo, newly elected as a député under the banner of the UMP.[13]

Personal life

Sarkozy was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine. He got married to Jessica Sebaoun on September 10, 2008 at Neuilly-sur-Seine city hall. His wife is the daughter of Marc-André Sebaoun and Isabelle Maruani (nee Darty). Maruani is heir to a major electronics company, the Darty group. He has denied reports that he intends to convert to Judaism, Sebaoun's religion. The cartoonist Siné came under sharp criticism and was fired from his magazine after accusing Jean Sarkozy of converting out of ambition and being sued by the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA).[14]

In 2007, Le Canard Enchainé, a satirical weekly newspaper, reported that French police had gone to extraordinary lengths to try to find his scooter when it was stolen, including taking DNA samples from his helmet. The scooter was recovered in 10 days.[15]

References

  1. ^ Globe and Mail, "Setting his own course where his dad once trod Jean Sarkozy, 21, has the instincts of a seasoned politician", Anita Elash, 6 March 2008
  2. ^ The Guardian 12 February 2008, "Turmoil as 'Sarkoville' turns against French president in mayoral race: Sarkozy's choice offers to quit as he is so unpopular", Angelique Chrisafis, 12 February 2008
  3. ^ Le Figaro, "Jean Sarkozy, Fils de President en Campagne", 3 March 2008
  4. ^ http://www.mesopinions.com/Jean-Sarkozy--renoncez-a-postuler-au-poste-de-president-de-l-EPAD-petition-petitions-fdc75d89c604d782a5b2198681c67f26.html
  5. ^ http://fr.reuters.com/article/topNews/idFRPAE59F05620091016
  6. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1219289/Sarkozy-criticised-keeping-family-giving-son-Jean-government-job.html
  7. ^ http://timescorrespondents.typepad.com/charles_bremner/2009/10/sarkozy-rules-okay.html
  8. ^ http://fr.reuters.com/article/topNews/idFRPAE59C06F20091013?pageNumber=3&virtualBrandChannel=0
  9. ^ http://fr.reuters.com/article/topNews/idFRPAE59C06F20091013?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0
  10. ^ http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xaspb1_sarkozy-pour-reussir-il-ne-faut-plu_news
  11. ^ http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2009/10/14/pourquoi-jean-sarkozy-s-accroche-malgre-l-ampleur-de-la-polemique_1253690_823448.html
  12. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qc4gkj9PZc&feature=fvw
  13. ^ http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualites/politique/20091020.OBS5183/david_douillet_defend_jean_sarkozy_et_le_maintien_du_bo.html
  14. ^ New York Times,"A Scooter, a Sarkozy and Rancor Collide"
  15. ^ Globe and Mail. Ibid.