Paris (AFP)

Nicolas Sarkozy refused Wednesday to speak of "political justice", as some of his supporters did after his conviction to prison, a sentence he again qualified as "deep injustice".

"I have never spoken of political justice and I will never speak of it," said the former head of state on TF1.

"I know the difference between the behavior of some and an institution", he added, hammering: "I will not fall into the trap of a political fight against an institution that I respect".

While several of his supporters on the right questioned the role of the National Financial Prosecutor's Office in this trial, he assured that he was not asking "for the dissolution of any institution".

"I only ask for one thing, the truth and respect for the rule of law," he added.

In this case, "who can say that I had the slightest advantage?"

Mr. Sarkozy had already, in Le Figaro on Tuesday, denounced "a deep injustice", indicating that he did not rule out going to the European Court of Human Rights if he did not obtain satisfaction on appeal.

"I will fight to the end so that the truth triumphs", he assured, repeating: "I will not lower my head because I am being blamed for facts that I did not commit".

But "I am used to undergoing this harassment for ten years", he assured.

"What is happening today is a deep injustice and the truth will explode."

The former head of state was sentenced Monday by the 32nd correctional chamber of the Paris court to three years' imprisonment, including one firm, for corruption and influence peddling in the so-called "eavesdropping" case, a historic decision he appealed.

Asked about his possible political ambitions, Mr. Sarkozy assured that he had "taken well before the decision of the court, the decision not to (stand)" for the presidential election of 2022.

"I do not have the will to return to politics, I have turned the page on politics," he repeated, while some on the right saw him as a possible recourse for 2022.

Finally on the health crisis, for the former head of state, "it is clear. And I said it to the President of the Republic: it is to vaccinate".

"You have to vaccinate day and night, seven days a week, it's the only way out" and that's what, according to him, will cost the least. "

© 2021 AFP