The French Socialist candidate in the 2012 presidential election leveled criticism at President Nicolas Sarkozy after the National Assembly adopted the bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide.

As Francois Hollande told Le Monde, his party voted for the bill because it chose to support a similar motion five years ago.

He claimed that Sarkozy’s actions are nothing but part of election campaign.

On December 22, French National Assembly passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial. The draft law envisages a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros for those who publicly deny the Armenian Genocide in France.