From cruising the Mediterranean in billionaire businessman Vincent Bolloré’s luxury yacht, to his involvement in the release of five Bulgarian nurses imprisoned by Libya, Nicolas Sarkozy has garnered both criticism and praise since he won the French presidential election in May. The new French president set out on a course to clearly demarcate himself from his predecessor, and is eagerly pushing ahead with a radical reform programme outlined in his election campaign.

Our FT.com slideshow traces some of the highlights in the event-filled months since his election victory.