Sarkozy - Let the Race Begin!

Sarkozy finally threw his hat in the ring this week and has officially announced his candidature for the presidential election in April this year. And so the race begins.
Sarko has been president of France since 2007 when he beat lefty Segolene Royale. Since then, he has just about managed to keep his head above water, through "la crise", riots, international incidents, and a public that will take to the streets to strike with any whisper of change ( longer working week/ earlier retirement age, etc). It has not been an easy ride. He faces a battle over the next three months with his usual conservative vote worried about issues regarding immigration and employment. 
10 things you may not know about Sarkozy:

1. As a child, he was abandoned by his father and hence spent much of his childhood at his grandfather's home. His parents are Greek and Hungarian.
2. He used to feel inferior to the wealthier and taller classmates at school. " What made me who I am now is the sum of all the humiliations suffered during childhood" 
3. He has 121 cars at his disposal in the Elysee Palace and spends over 10,000euros a day on food
4. He married ex super model Carla Bruni after a brief two month romance
5. He is twice divorced and has 4 children
6. As the French President, one of his first actions was to give himself a pay rise: his yearly salary went from €101,000 to €240,000
7. He measures up at 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) and frequently wears platforms when meeting with tall leaders, eg Obama
8. He famously told a hustler in a crowd to "casse toi, pauvre con" (f off, you loser - loose translation) in the run up to the last elections.
9. He appeared drunk in public after a meeting with Russian president Putin
10. He is currently trailing 10 points behind in the polls behind the socialist candidate Francois Hollande

An interesting few weeks ahead as the battle commences .. we don't have the right to vote in the presidential elections though, tant pis!