Gérald Darmanin on Thursday gave his "personal support" to Nicolas Sarkozy against whom four years in prison were required Tuesday, two of which were closed in the wiretapping affair.
"I have respect and affection for President Sarkozy, if I may, because I think he is a man who has served the Republic a lot," he said on France Info. Thursday.
Do you believe him guilty when he claims to be innocent?
"I believe President Sarkozy because I know he is a man, I have seen him work more closely, who is honest and he is a man who all his life has been devoted to political life, therefore to the French “, He defended.
🗣️ Case of "eavesdropping": "I have respect and affection for Nicolas Sarkozy", answers Gérald Darmanin.
"He is an honest man, who all his life has been devoted to political life and to the French"
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"I have very often Nicolas Sarkozy on the phone [...] I received him for a breakfast recently", continued the Minister of the Interior.
"Too respectful" of institutions to "pass judgment"
"He was a very great president", insisted Gérald Darmanin, stressing that he was "too respectful" of institutions and justice to "pass judgment" on the trial which ends this Thursday before the correctional chamber of the Paris TGI.
Gérald Darmanin, who came to politics through his establishment in Hauts-de-France, worked with Nicolas Sarkozy in 2014 for the presidency of the UMP, the former name of the Republicans.
He was the campaign coordinator of the former president in the primary who had appointed François Fillon LR candidate for the presidential election.