Sarkozy to take over as French president

Nicolas Sarkozy officially takes office today as France’s new president, replacing Jacques Chirac in an elaborate ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

The conservative Mr Sarkozy, 52, will be “more implicated in daily affairs” than his predecessors, said aide Henri Guaino, adding that the new president will be laying out the “philosophy of his presidency” in his inauguration speech.