Paris: Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday became the second former French leader to be stripped of the Legion of Honour after Nazi collaborator Philippe Pétain. The decree follows Sarkozy's conviction for corruption and follows the rules of the order despite President Emmanuel Macron saying he was opposed to the move.

According to France24.com, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been stripped of his Legion of Honour - the country's highest distinction - following a conviction for graft, as per a decree published on Sunday. The right-wing ex-president ruled France from 2007 to 2012 and has faced numerous legal challenges since leaving office after a bruising presidential election defeat.

Sarkozy, whose electronic tag was removed this month, is using his last remaining legal avenue, an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, to defend himself against the conviction. He is currently on trial in a separate case on charges of accepting illegal campaign financing in an alleged pact with the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

The court is expected to give a verdict in September, with prosecutors asking for a seven-year prison term for Sarkozy, who denies the charges. Despite his legal problems, Sarkozy remains an influential figure on the right and is known to regularly meet with Macron.