Latest news with #NicolasSarkozy
Local France
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Inside France: Dodgy French politicians, fast trains and fun soldiers
Inside France is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article. Slippery politicos It's been a bad week for dodgy politicians in France - ex PM François Fillon was finally sentenced over the fake jobs scandal that torpedoed his 2017 presidential bid, while ex president and convicted criminal Nicolas Sarkozy was stripped of his Légion d'honneur . These two very much represent the past in French politics, but the woman who hopes to be the future also suffered a legal setback the previous week - a Lille court denied Marine Le Pen's appeal against the loss of her role as a local councillor in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area, following her conviction for embezzlement. The fact that these things are all happening in the same couple of weeks is pure coincidence - Fillon and Sarkozy have both been dragging out the legal process for years - but it does highlight the issue of corruption in French politics. The reaction in France from many has been to worry that this paints a terrible picture of their country - but among foreigners I notice that the response is often the exact opposite; they see it as a positive thing, and proof that France is willing to prosecute corruption in high places. I wouldn't get over excited about the powerful getting their comeuppance - all three have access to the sort of lawyers who can and do drag out cases for years, and ensure that their clients get sentences at the lower end of the spectrum. But it does at least send a message that no-one is above the law. On track for growth This week - the week when the UK's latest high-speed rail project was delayed for what feels like the millionth time - we're also looking at how France got so good at high-speed rail, and how it manages to keep build costs comparatively low. One French expert said that France's 'authoritarian streak' is a key component. READ ALSO : How France became a world champion of high-speed rail✎ Advertisement I find that whenever you mention French rail success, anglophones tend to respond that France's frequent rail strikes put them off - that may be the case for them, but data suggests that the French don't feel the same way, with more and more people taking the train each year , and more people choosing high-speed rail over flying. It's the same with tourism - the anglophone reaction to French strikes or social unrest that takes place over the summer is often to suggest that it will damage the tourism industry. That's not born out by statistics either, with France retaining its crown as the world's most visited tourist destination and on course to break its own records in 2025 . I feel that it's worth digging in to this data, because it gives the lie to the assumption that you can either have an engaged and militant workforce or you can have economic growth, but you can't have both. France's rail and tourism industries would suggest that these are far from being mutually exclusive. Advertisement Talking France We talk about both dodgy politicians and rail in the latest episode of the Talking France podcast, before having some fun with a segment on French swearing - and why it is both cool and elegant. Listen here or on the link below. Oldie but a goodie I saw this clip being shared a lot in response to Donald Trump's somewhat underwhelming military parade last weekend - from the Paris Bastille Day event in 2017, it's a reminder that military parades can also be fun. The French military displaying a sense of humour was perhaps also a foreshadowing to one of my favourite bits of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony - the very serious Garde Républicaine soldiers suddenly morphing into a backing band for Aya Nakamura. Inside France is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.
Hans India
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Inside Iran's impenetrable fordow nuclear site: Buried deep and built for war
Nestled within the mountains near the holy city of Qom, Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant is one of the most fortified and secretive nuclear facilities in the world. Recent satellite imagery reveals only five visible tunnels, a major support structure, and a sweeping security perimeter—clues to a facility that has sparked global concern for over a decade. Fordow came to international attention in 2009, when then-U.S. President Barack Obama, joined by France's Nicolas Sarkozy and Britain's Gordon Brown, revealed the existence of the site to the world. Its vast underground chambers—estimated to be 80 to 90 meters (262 to 295 feet) below ground—place it beyond the reach of conventional aerial bombs, including those in Israel's arsenal. While Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, experts and global leaders remain skeptical. The sheer scale and secrecy of Fordow have fueled fears that it could be used to rapidly convert enriched uranium into weapons-grade material. The facility, analysts say, may play a crucial role should Iran accelerate towards building a nuclear weapon, especially amid recent Israeli airstrikes that have rattled Iran's leadership but reportedly left Fordow unscathed. Construction of Fordow began in the early 2000s, during what experts call Iran's 'crash nuclear weapons program.' Satellite images as far back as 2004 show the early development of tunnel entrances and ventilation systems. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has even deeper archival images dating to 2002. According to David Albright, head of the Institute for Science and International Security, 'The idea was they [Iran] would make weapon-grade uranium in that plant and obtain low-enriched uranium from the civil nuclear program.' Iran told the IAEA in a 2009 letter that Fordow was built underground due to 'threats of military attacks' and was intended as a backup to its Natanz facility—another key uranium enrichment site. Today, the facility is believed to be capable of housing up to 3,000 centrifuges. Though its true scale and status remain closely guarded secrets, Fordow stands as a symbol of Iran's determination—and defiance—in the face of mounting international scrutiny and pressure.
Roya News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
France strips Sarkozy of Legion of Honour after corruption conviction
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been officially removed from the Legion of Honour, France's most prestigious award, following a corruption conviction, according to a decree published Sunday. The 70-year-old conservative leader, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, had been under electronic surveillance until last month after his conviction for attempting to obtain confidential information from a judge in exchange for favors, a ruling upheld by France's highest court in December. Under the rules governing the Legion of Honour, any recipient sentenced to a prison term of one year or more is automatically disqualified from the order. However, President Emmanuel Macron had previously expressed reservations about revoking Sarkozy's honor, arguing in April that, despite the scandal, 'it is very important that former presidents are respected.' Despite his legal troubles, Sarkozy continues to wield influence in French right-wing circles and maintains a personal relationship with Macron. Sarkozy is the second former French head of state to lose the honor, following Philippe Pétain, the Nazi collaborator convicted of treason in 1945. Others who have been stripped of the title include former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, and Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Sarkozy's legal team has taken the case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), hoping to overturn the conviction. His lawyer, Patrice Spinosi, said the former president had 'taken note' of the decision, but emphasized that the ECHR petition is 'still pending.' 'A ruling against France would imply reviewing the criminal conviction against [Sarkozy] as well as his exclusion from the order of the Legion of Honour,' Spinosi added. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot echoed that the legal matter 'has not been completely closed,' while government spokeswoman Sophie Primas criticized comparisons between Sarkozy and Pétain as 'shameful.' Meanwhile, Sarkozy is also standing trial in a separate high-profile case involving allegations of accepting illicit campaign funds from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. A verdict in that case is expected in September, with prosecutors seeking a seven-year prison sentence. Sarkozy denies any wrongdoing. General François Lecointre, the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour, defended the move, stating in March that 'the honour of the order depends on the fact that those decorated can also be sanctioned.'
Russia Today
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Sarkozy stripped of France's highest state award
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been excluded from the prestigious National Order of the Legion of Honor, according to a state decree published on Sunday. The revocation follows a 2022 conviction for corruption and influence peddling. Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion of Honor (Légion d'honneur) is currently France's highest award. It is bestowed for exemplary civil or military service and is regarded as a mark of distinction and official recognition of exceptional merit. The rules of the Legion of Honor mandate the exclusion of any recipient sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one year or more. The exclusion stems from a conviction in what has become known as the 'wiretapping affair.' In 2021, Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, was found guilty of attempting to bribe a judge in exchange for confidential information about a separate investigation related to his 2007 presidential campaign. In 2023, the former president was handed a three-year prison sentence, including two years suspended and the remaining one at home with electronic monitoring. In late 2024, the Court of Cassation, France's highest court, upheld the sentence that Sarkozy had sought to challenge. The revocation makes Sarkozy the second head of the French state to be stripped of the Legion of Honor; the first was the notorious Marshal Philippe Petain. The head of the Nazi puppet regime of Vichy France during World War II was convicted of high treason in 1945. The decision to strip Sarkozy of the award came despite the reported reluctance of current French President Emmanuel Macron, who said in April that he thought that the former head of state 'deserves respect.'
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy stripped of Legion of Honor medal over graft
File photo: Nicolas Sarkozy (AP) PARIS: France's former President Nicolas Sarkozy has been stripped of his Legion of Honor medal after being convicted last year of corruption and influence peddling while he was the country's head of state, it was announced on Sunday. The decision was made via a decree released in the Journal Officiel that publishes the govt's major legal information. It comes in line with the rules of the Legion of Honor. The conservative politician, who was president from 2007 to 2012, has been at the heart of a series of legal cases since leaving office. He was found guilty of corruption and influence peddling by both a Paris court in 2021 and an appeals court in 2023 for trying to bribe a magistrate in exchange for information about a legal case in which he was implicated. He was sentenced to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet for one year, a verdict upheld by France's highest court, the Court of Cassation, in December. Earlier this year, Sarkozy stood trial over allegations he received millions of dollars from Libya for his successful presidential campaign in 2007. He denies the claims. Prosecutors requested a 7-year prison sentence. The verdict is expected in September. Sarkozy becomes the second former head of state to be stripped of the Legion of Honor - France's highest distinction - after Nazi collaborator Philippe Petain, who was convicted in 1945 for treason. Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was stripped of his Legion of Honor award in the wake of misconduct allegations against him in 2017. Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong also had his award revoked.
