Nicolas Sarkozy to quit politics and practice law: Report

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Nicolas Sarkozy, who lost the recent presidential race in France, is to quit politics and practice law, a media report said.

The 57-year-old outgoing French President, a qualified lawyer, will first have a holiday at his wife Carla Bruni's sprawling villa in south of France after handing over power to socialist president-elect Francois Hollande next week.

He is expected to rejoin his old firm in Paris which specialises in property law, the Daily Express reported.

In fact, he doesn't even want to wait until the official transition of power next on Tuesday to move out of the Elysee Palace. He reportedly told friends: "If I could, I'd be gone tomorrow."

His close friend and political adviser Franck Louvrier was quoted by the British newspaper as telling Le Parisien newspaper in France: "He is a lawyer and he will return to his legal firm."

Another friend told the newspaper: "He is very keen to rediscover his freedom and his private life and to stop been attacked by the press. One of his main gripes was never even being able to take his children to a restaurant." Sarkozy had indicated after his defeat on Sunday that he would quit politcs.

"I hope to live a normal life. I lost the election but journalists continue to prevent me from taking a break. I'm unable to have lunch with my family. I hope I can now be left to enjoy a bit of quiet," he said.