Sarkozy's dad slept outside Paris metro

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's father describes his hardships as a penniless refugee in wartime France and pride in his son during a rare interview posted on a WebTV site.

Pal Sarkozy, an 80-year-old painter who lives outside Paris, also said he hoped the global economic crisis would soon be over to allow his son to show his "true values" during less challenging times.

"He is an exceptional man," Sarkozy senior said in the interview to Omega.tv that was to be broadcast on a mainstream television channel yesterday evening.