Nicolas Sarkozy, France

Nicolas Sarkozy was born in Paris 52 years ago, of a French mother and a father who chose to immigrate to France when his country, Hungary, was invaded by the communist Soviet Union. He grew up in Paris, then in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a suburb of Paris, where he still lives. His family taught him the values of Gaullism: love of France and the refusal of defeat.

Born January 28 1955, Paris

Family His father was a Hungarian immigrant who fled in the late 1940s and signed up for the Foreign Legion.

Education Masters degree in private law, 1978, Institute d'Études Politiques de Paris, 1979-81, barrister's diploma, 1981

Career Barrister 1981-87; mayor, Neuilly-sur-Seine, 1983; minister of the budget 1993-94; minister of communication, 1994-95; minister of the interior and security, 2002-04; minister of the economy, finance and industry, 2004; president UMP, November 2004

On personal ambition When he was asked in a television interview whether he dreamt of being president when shaving, Sarkozy replied: "Yes - and not only when shaving."