Nicolas Sarkozy had warned that he would go to the summons of the judge, unprecedented as it may be.
He therefore appeared this Tuesday at the beginning of the afternoon at the Paris court, which has been judging since last October 18 five of his former relatives in the Elysee polls file.
These former employees - among which Claude Guéant and Patrick Buisson - are questioned about consulting services and the provision of surveys for millions of euros, between 2007 and 2012, without going through any call for tenders.
Nicolas Sarkozy, covered by his presidential immunity, has never been prosecuted or heard about these suspicions of favoritism and embezzlement of public funds.
It is the president of the 32nd correctional chamber of the Paris court who ordered, on October 19, his appearance as a witness, if necessary "by the police", considering his hearing "necessary for the manifestation of the truth".
Cited as a witness by the Anticor association, civil party, Nicolas Sarkozy had previously let it be known, in a letter to the court, that he did not intend to come, as he had already done during the investigation.
Until now, justice has never forced a former head of state to testify on facts in connection with acts accomplished in the exercise of his functions.