Another trial for Nicolas Sarkozy: the former French president must appear in court in Paris to answer for four months and along with three former ministers on charges of illegally financing his 2007 presidential campaign from Muammar Gaddafi's Libya.
The 69-year-old former head of state (2007-2012) will attend the opening of the trial at 1:30 p.m. local time, according to his entourage, who say he is "fighting" and "determined" to prove his innocence in the face of what he has always described as a "fable."
Then interior minister, he is accused of having made a "corruption deal" in late 2005 with the wealthy Libyan dictator who was ousted in 2011, notably with the help of his very close friends Claude Guéant (his chief of staff) and former minister Brice Hortefo, so as to "support" financially his accession to the Elysee Palace.
Nicolas Sarkozy faces 10 years in prison and a fine of 375 000 euros, as well as disqualification from citizenship (i.e. inability to participate in elections) for up to 5 years, on charges of bribery, concealment of misappropriation of public funds, illegal campaign financing and criminal conspiracy.
This is the fifth trial in five years for the former right-wing president, AFP reported.
He was convicted at first instance and on appeal in the "Bygmalion" case (regarding his campaign financing in 2012, he appealed to the Court of Cassation).
In the so-called "wiretapping" case, concerning a "corruption contract" with a high-ranking French magistrate, his appeal was dismissed in mid-December, and he was finally sentenced to one year in prison with an electronic bracelet - an unprecedented punishment for a former president.
He is still not wearing the bracelet - it could take several weeks - which allowed him to spend his holiday in the Seychelles with his wife, the singer Carla Bruni, and their daughter.
The trial will begin with the roll call of the 12 defendants, civil parties and witnesses, before procedural matters that are expected to preoccupy the court throughout the first week.
The hearings will be held on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, until April 10.
According to his entourage, Nicolas Sarkozy will attend every hearing during the first month, which will be devoted to the funding allegations. Other aspects of the case will be examined in the coming weeks. | BGNES
