Sarkozy says he is ready to sue France before European court to prove innocence

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy said yesterday he was ready to go all the way to the European Court of Human Rights to prove his innocence, his first public reaction after being found guilty of corruption by judges on Monday.

"I appealed the decision, maybe will I have to pursue this fight all the way to the European Court of Human Rights," Sarkozy told Le Figaro newspaper in an interview.

"That would be painful for me to have to get my own country condemned, but I'm ready for it because that would be the price of democracy," he said, adding he would not run for president in 2022 but will endorse a candidate in due time.