Sarkozy's son backs out amid nepotism row

The decision by Jean Sarkozy, the 23-year-old son of French president Nicolas, to drop his bid to run the agency that runs Paris' wealthy business district was largely welcomed by ordinary French people and Jean Sarkozy's political foes on Friday.Critics widely denounced his efforts to take the helm of EPAD, which manages the La Defense neighbourhood on the outskirts of Paris, and accused his father of orchestrating the unprecedented promotion. Sarkozy bowed to rising political and popular pressure and announced his decision on French television on Thursday night. While he will not seek the chairmanship of EPAD, the body that runs La Defense, he was still expected to seek election to its board on Friday. On the streets of Paris, the decision was also welcomed.Jean, the president's second son from his first marriage, entered politics last year when he was elected as a councillor in the suburb where his father built his own political career.