2014 - Arrest for corruption

On 1 July 2014, Nicolas Sarkozy was arrested and taken into police custody, becoming the first former French president in history to be so detained. In a bribery and influence-peddling investigation, he is accused of having tried to obtain confidential information from a judge about a case concerning him, promising him a prestigious post in Monaco in return. He denies all accusations, denouncing a political conspiracy. Despite the shock and shame of the arrest, the following year Sarkozy founded the Les Républicains party and became its president, attempting a return to active politics.