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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy ridiculed under #JeSuisNico for moving to front of Paris march

IN PROOF nothing escapes eagle eyes of the internet, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been ridiculed for what he thought was a discreet move at the Paris march.

VICTORIA CRAW
less than 2 min read
January 13, 2015 - 11:01AM
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been ridiculed online in what appears to be a bid to make himself centre of attention at the Paris march in support of terror victims. Picture: Patrick Kovarik / AFP
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been ridiculed online in what appears to be a bid to make himself centre of attention at the Paris march in support of terror victims. Picture: Patrick Kovarik / AFP

NOTHING escapes the eagle eyes of the internet.

As more than 40 world leaders gathered in Paris in a show of solidarity with victims of the deadly terror attacks in Paris, a single move from a former President has made him the butt of jokes online.

Ex-French leader Nicolas Sarkozy was pictured a few rows back in the crowd behind current leader Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. However moments later after a few swift manoeuvres he was front and centre amid the leaders.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is pictured about three rows back between current French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Picture: AFP.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is pictured about three rows back between current French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Picture: AFP.
And moments later leading the march next to Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Picture: Philippe Wojazer / AFP
And moments later leading the march next to Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Picture: Philippe Wojazer / AFP

The swift move did not go unnoticed and led to the hashtag #JeSuisNico which started trending on Twitter as users ridiculed what appeared to be a lunge for the spotlight. The hashtag is a play on #JeSuisCharlie (‘I am Charlie’), which began trending after the attack on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper last week.

Now Mr Sarkozy has been given pride of place at historical moments from the fall of the Berlin Wall to Barack Obama’s reflection. Check out some of the best below.

It’s a light touch to what has been a devastating week in France where more than 3.7 million people turned out to march in support of victims of the terror attacks. Others gathered in cities around the world from London to Sydney, Havana, Rio de Janeiro and Washington D.C.

This morning The White House spokesman Josh Earnest made a rare admission of error when he said the US should have sent someone “higher profile” than French ambassador Jane Hartley to attend the Paris march. He hinted that security arrangements for President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden prevented them attending.

“There’s no doubt that had the president or vice president, on this very short time frame, gone to participate in this event that took place outdoors with more than a million people in attendance, that it would have significantly impacted the ability of those who attended the march to participate in the way they did yesterday,” he said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is due to visit Paris this week.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/social/former-french-president-nicolas-sarkozy-ridiculed-under-jesuisnico-for-moving-to-front-of-paris-march/news-story/13caee275e7b40728fe565dc16f22026