Defiant Nicolas Sarkozy out to claim ultimate victory despite corruption probes
Despite being placed under formal investigation for alleged corruption, France's former 'bling bling' president has his eyes on the Elysee Palace
To the left, it was the country's justice system doing its job and showing that no man - not even a powerful former president - is above the law.
The move to put the former French president under formal investigation for allegations of corruption, trafficking influence and receiving information violating professional secrecy rocked the country.
But while it was a setback to his hopes of a return the presidential palace, it may not be a knockout blow - and the one-time "bling bling" president immediately came out fighting.
On Wednesday night, Sarkozy appeared on television for the first time since leaving the Elysee Palace in 2012 to claim the justice system was being used as a "political instrument" against him and to lash out at the magistrates and France's Socialist government.
"In our country, the country of human rights and the right of law, there are things that are being organised ... everything is being done to give an image of me that is not the truth.
"To all those watching and listening, I want to say that I have never betrayed their confidence. I have never committed an act against republican principles or the law," he said.
