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Sarkozy, 52, an admirer of the [[United States]],<ref>http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20070424-102752-8335r.htm</ref> was born in [[Paris]] to a French mother (the daughter of a Greek immigrant) and a [[Hungarian]] father (real name: Sarkozy de Nagy-Bocsa) who had escaped [[Communism]]. Sarkozy attended law school at the University of Paris, and also studied at the Institute of Political Studies. In 1983, at the age of 28, he became [[mayor]] of Neuilly-sur-Seine, a major suburb of Paris. He was elected to [[Parliament]] in 1988 and named minister in 1993. From 2002 to 2007 he served as interior minister and budget minister during which time he burnished his reputation as a tough-on-crime and straightforward politician. On January 14, 2007, he was chosen by the [[UMP|Union pour un Mouvement Populaire]] (UMP), France's main conservative party, as its candidate for president.

Sarkozy, 52, an admirer of the [[United States]],<ref>http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20070424-102752-8335r.htm</ref> was born in [[Paris]] to a French mother (the daughter of a Greek immigrant) and a [[Hungarian]] father (real name: Sarkozy de Nagy-Bocsa) who had escaped [[Communism]]. Sarkozy attended law school at the University of Paris, and also studied at the Institute of Political Studies. In 1983, at the age of 28, he became [[mayor]] of Neuilly-sur-Seine, a major suburb of Paris. He was elected to [[Parliament]] in 1988 and named minister in 1993. From 2002 to 2007 he served as interior minister and budget minister during which time he burnished his reputation as a tough-on-crime and straightforward politician. On January 14, 2007, he was chosen by the [[UMP|Union pour un Mouvement Populaire]] (UMP), France's main conservative party, as its candidate for president.

Married and divorced twice, Sarkozy is father to three sons, Pierre and Jean from his first marriage and Louis from his second.<ref>http://www.support-sarkozy-france.com/nicolas_sarkozy/</ref> He was married for a third time on February 2, 2008, to model and singer [[Carla Bruni]].<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/03/europe/03sarkozy.php Elaine Sciolino, "French president and ex-model wed, quietly," ''International Herald Tribune'' 3 Feb. 2008.]</ref>

Divorced twice, Sarkozy is father to three sons, Pierre and Jean from his first marriage and Louis from his second.<ref>http://www.support-sarkozy-france.com/nicolas_sarkozy/</ref> He was married for a third time on February 2, 2008, to model and singer [[Carla Bruni]].<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/03/europe/03sarkozy.php Elaine Sciolino, "French president and ex-model wed, quietly," ''International Herald Tribune'' 3 Feb. 2008.]</ref>

Sarkozy also has engendered much controversy in France with his advocacy of economic reforms, [[immigration]] controls, a youth employment law that the [[government]] was compelled to repeal by widespread protests,<ref>http://worldnews.about.com/od/france/g/sarkozy_nicolas.htm </ref> and his notorious comment that his intention was to "wash away the scum", when referring to the [[2005 Paris Riots]].<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,,2063783,00.html</ref>

Sarkozy also has engendered much controversy in France with his advocacy of economic reforms, [[immigration]] controls, a youth employment law that the [[government]] was compelled to repeal by widespread protests,<ref>http://worldnews.about.com/od/france/g/sarkozy_nicolas.htm </ref> and his notorious comment that his intention was to "wash away the scum", when referring to the [[2005 Paris Riots]].<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,,2063783,00.html</ref>