Nicolas Sarkozy’s son fights claims of nepotism

An undergraduate who has only just turned 23, Jean Sarkozy de Nagy-Bocsa is an unlikely candidate for a high-profile job overseeing the development of La Defense, the business district on the outskirts of Paris. However, 'Prince Jean' is the French president's son, and amid accusations of nepotism, has become the favourite to take over at EPAD, the development body that runs La Defense and where Sarkozy himself was in charge between 2005 and 2006.

Jean, whose mother, Marie-Dominique Culioli, was Sarkozy's first wife, is tall, blonde and dashing. In other words, nothing like his dad. On the other hand, he does share his father's mannerisms and Napoleonic ambition.

Nicolas Sarkozy was 28 when he was elected mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, an affluent Parisian suburb, and Jean, at the same time as studying for his law degree, is already the council leader of Hauts-de-Seine, France's richest departement. Like his father, he is a member of the centre-right UMP.

The expected appointment at La Defense has provoked widespread condemnation from both sides of the political divide. Jean-Paul Huchon, a senior Socialist, said: "At the heart of the matter is a downwards spiral toward monarchism. Everything is accepted without shame or restraint."

A UMP deputy said: "Most 23-year-old students in France are still struggling to complete their courses or find unpaid work experience jobs. You can imagine how this goes down with middle-class parents worried about their children's futures in a time of recession. Nicolas Sarkozy should remember that he was elected on a promise of bringing equal opportunities to all."

In response, Jean Sarkozy has tried to brush aside the notion that his career is being fast-tracked. "Whatever I say, whatever I do, I will be criticised," he told Le Parisien. "Ever since I entered politics I have always been criticised."

The furore comes at a difficult time for La Defense, a development with enough office space to accommodate 150,000 workers. There are plans for a one billion euro redevelopment, which the French hope will allow it to overtake the City of London as Europe's leading financial centre. However, La Defense's financial records have often been criticised as opaque, and the centre has struggled during the recession.