Sarkozy slams ‘unconstitutional’ summons to testify as witness in trial of ex-aides
France's ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, twice convicted in recent months, on Tuesday slammed as "unconstitutional" his summons to give evidence in the trial of ex-aides charged with favouritism over polling contracts. President from 2007-2012, Sarkozy was in typically defiant form before the criminal court in Paris, exercising his right not to answer questions. "It is an essential principle of democracies known as the separation of powers and as President of the Republic I do not have to account for the organisation of my office or the way in which I exercised my mandate," he told the court. He said the decision to summon him was "completely unconstitutional" and "totally disproportionate". Protected by his presidential immunity, the former head of state has never been charged or interrogated in the poll contracts case. But in a surprise move, the judge in the trial ordered Sarkozy to appear as a witness to help shed light on the case. Five a...