Nicolas Sarkozy is set to stand criminal trial for running a corrupt campaign to become president of France. It comes after Paris prosecutors placed the 61-year-old conservative under formal investigation for illegal financing, and recommended he should appear as a defendant in court. Despite the ongoing enquiry, the leader of the Republic Party was convinced he could still become head of state again... 

Police officers have carried out a number of raids in Paris – on the villa Nicolas Sarkozy shares with his wife Carla Bruni, on the law offices of the former president’s attorneys and on the apartment provided to him by the government. Judge Jean-Michele Gentil and financial police searched the Sarkozys’ villa Montmorency, located in the French capital’s most luxurious district,... 

Ms Mussonlini's stinging comments will cause further controversy around EU immigration policy. Mussolini’s granddaughter has lashed out at France’s ‘socialist’ First Lady Carla Bruni for not doing enough for illegal immigrants. Alessandra Mussolini, an Italian MP and granddaughter of the country’s Second World War fascist leader, said Ms Bruni should welcome Africans displaced... 

On the rise: National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen saw his party win almost 12 per cent of the vote in French regional elections Nicolas Sarkozy has received a drubbing in French regional elections which saw the re-emergence of the far-Right National Front. The president’s ruling UMP party polled 26 per cent in the first round of voting and the Socialists almost 30 per cent. But Jean Marie...