PARIS, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Nicolas Sarkozy is the frontrunner in the French presidential elections on Sunday. He is the candidate of the right-wing Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), the leading partner in the ruling coalition.

    Born on Jan. 28, 1955 in Paris, Sarkozy is the son of a Hungarian immigrant and a French mother.

    Sarkozy became a lawyer after passing the bar exams. He had previously obtained a bachelor's degree in law from the Universite Paris X Nanterre.

    Sarkozy entered politics in 1977 when he was just 22 years old. He first became councilor and then mayor of the town of Neuilly-sur-Seine.

    He was appointed interior minister by President Jacques Chirac although he had betrayed Chirac in the 1995 presidential elections.

    He later became finance minister, but was appointed again as interior minister in June 2005, a post he was holding until March 2007.

    Since November 2004, he has been president of the UMP.

    Sarkozy, nicknamed "Sarko," is known for his toughness as interior minister, who is responsible for law enforcement.

    He takes a hardline position on immigration and unemployment. He is also known for his admiration for the United States.

    Sarkozy is married to Cecilia Sarkozy and they have a son.