France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for the country to repeal its same-sex marriage laws.

Same-sex weddings began in the country in May last year under Socialist François Hollande, and since the laws took effect over 7,000 gay and lesbian couples have married.

However, former UMP leader Nicolas Sarkozy – who was President until 2012 – has called for the law, which also legalises gay adoption, to be scrapped if his party gets back into power.

Speaking at an event, he said the laws “should be rewritten from the ground up”.

However, when the crowd chanted “Repeal! Repeal! Repeal!”, he added: ‘If you prefer that I say repeal the law… it comes down to the same thing.”

Such a move would leave thousands of legally married couples without legal protections or rights – and would split apart families who have already adopted.

Despite his calls, polls have consistently found the public support both same-sex unions and adoption – with 68 percent and 53 percent in favour of each respectively.

Sarkozy had pledged to deliver civil unions during his first term in office in 2007 – a promise which he later broke, scrapping the planned reform.

In July, Sarkozy was charged with corruption by French prosecutors – and could face up to ten years in prison for the crimes.

He has been married three times.