Former French president stripped of nation's top honour
Dominique Vidalon and Gilles Guillaume Reuters
Former president Nicolas Sarkozy has been stripped of his Legion of Honour, France's highest distinction, after being convicted of corruption and influence peddling.
The centre-right politician has been embroiled in legal battles since leaving office in 2012.
France's highest court upheld his conviction for corruption and influence peddling in 2024, ordering him to wear an electronic tag for a year - a first for a former French head of state.
Also in 2024, an appeals court confirmed a separate conviction for illegal campaign financing in his failed re-election bid in 2012.
The rules of the Legion of Honour award meant the revocation - announced in a decree published in Sunday's Official Bulletin - had been expected.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
PM restates support for two-state solution in call with French President
Anthony Albanese has restated Australia's support for a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine in a phone call with Emmanuel Macron. The French President was the first major Western leader to conditionally commit to recognising a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) next month amid starvation in Gaza. The UK and Canada soon followed, sparking speculation that Australia could be next. The Prime Minister has neither committed to nor ruled out doing so, but his government has acknowledged the global 'momentum' for Palestinian statehood. 'The leaders spoke about the crisis in Gaza and their ongoing commitment to getting aid to civilians,' according to a readout of the call put out on Wednesday. 'Both leaders discussed their longstanding support for a two-state solution.' The readout said they also 'discussed action on climate and France's support for Australia's joint bid to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific' as well as 'the importance of finalising the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement'. 'The leaders agreed to stay in close touch and meet again at the United Nations General Assembly in September,' it said. Mr Albanese held a similar call with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, earlier this week. France, the UK and Canada have all condemned Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel in 2023 and said the Palestinian Islamist group cannot play a role in Gaza's governance. Though, all have also made clear the civilian suffering in the war-ravaged strip cannot continue either. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would go ahead with recognition if Israel did not loosen its chokehold on aid flowing into Gaza, where the death toll from starvation has climbed to nearly 200, according to local health officials. Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday repeated the Albanese government's condemnation of Hamas and said there was an 'unique opportunity in the international community to isolate and diminish' it while giving life to a Palestinian state. Originally published as PM restates support for two-state solution in call with French President
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Albo's big Gaza call with French leader
Anthony Albanese has restated Australia's support for a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine in a phone call with Emmanuel Macron. The French President was the first major Western leader to conditionally commit to recognising a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) next month amid starvation in Gaza. The UK and Canada soon followed, sparking speculation that Australia could be next. The Prime Minister has neither committed to nor ruled out doing so, but his government has acknowledged the global 'momentum' for Palestinian statehood. 'The leaders spoke about the crisis in Gaza and their ongoing commitment to getting aid to civilians,' according to a readout of the call put out on Wednesday. 'Both leaders discussed their longstanding support for a two-state solution.' Anthony Albanese has restated Australia's support for a two-state solution in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. Prime Minister's Office / Handout / NewsWire Credit: Supplied The readout said they also 'discussed action on climate and France's support for Australia's joint bid to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific' as well as 'the importance of finalising the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement'. 'The leaders agreed to stay in close touch and meet again at the United Nations General Assembly in September,' it said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and French President Emmanuel Macron will meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September. Prime Minister's Office / Handout / NewsWire Credit: Supplied Mr Albanese held a similar call with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, earlier this week. France, the UK and Canada have all condemned Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel in 2023 and said the Palestinian Islamist group cannot play a role in Gaza's governance. Though, all have also made clear the civilian suffering in the war-ravaged strip cannot continue either. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would go ahead with recognition if Israel did not loosen its chokehold on aid flowing into Gaza, where the death toll from starvation has climbed to nearly 200, according to local health officials. Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday repeated the Albanese government's condemnation of Hamas and said there was an 'unique opportunity in the international community to isolate and diminish' it while giving life to a Palestinian state.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Anthony Albanese and Emmanuel Macron discuss Palestine in call
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has held a call with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss Palestine. 'Australia, New Zealand, and France share the same commitment to the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas. The large-scale and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and the implementation of a political solution based on two states, living side by side in peace and security,' Mr Macron said in a post on X. 'We are working together towards these goals ahead of the upcoming Conference on the Two-State Solution to be held in New York during the UN General Assembly.'
