You can also listen to the article in audio version.
–
Nicolas Sarkozy knew for several weeks that he was approaching the legal limit on funding the presidential campaign. The indictment came to this conclusion in June, according to which the former president twice ignored the warnings of his accountants. Instead of stopping the flow of money, he instead issued instructions for further spending.
–
“Sarkozy is the only person responsible for funding the campaign. He is responsible for monitoring expenditure, which he did not do, “said prosecutor Vanessa Perrée in June. According to her, the ex-president continued to convene meetings, indicating his intention to exceed the budget of 22.5 million euros.
–
Expenditure on the presidential campaign exceeded Sarkozy’s deadline on March 10, eight weeks before the election. The ex-president knew this, but the next day he organized a giant meeting in Villepinte in northern Paris, which cost six million euros. With the upcoming elections, a politician nicknamed Sarko held an election rally almost daily, including two large ones in Paris, which cost several million euros.
–
Mistakes yes, it was not a bad intention, says Sarkozy
However, the sixty-six-year-old former politician denied all charges during the trial. “We probably made mistakes. ‘But was there a bad intention? No, no, “he argues, always listening to his team’s advice and even canceling two scheduled meetings.
–
Sarkozy’s lawyer, Gesche Le Fur, claims that her client did not know or order fraud. “He did not sign any contract, invoices and accepted spending restrictions. She respects the laws of the republic, “she told reporters during the trial.
–
Convicted French top politicians
In 2011, former French President Jacques Chirac was still on trial for embezzlement charges as mayor of Paris. He was sentenced to two years. At that time, however, Chirac was already ill and at an advanced age. He was therefore released.
–
Juppé held the position of French Prime Minister from 1995-1997. In 2011-2012 he was also Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 2004, the court also found him guilty of embezzlement. He figured in the same case as President Chirac.
–
Fillon was prime minister from 2007-2012. Last year, the court found him and his wife Penelope guilty of embezzling public funds. The former prime minister was sentenced to five years in prison. Fillon fictitiously employed his own wife and children. Fillon appealed against the verdict.
——
In addition to Sarkozy, 13 other people are being charged in the trial, including several right-wing Republican officials, accountants and the head of the PR agency Bygmalion, which was in charge of organizing meetings.
–
He got a hard year in March
The former president will be on the dock for the second time this year. In March this year, he was sentenced to three years behind bars, one of them “hard”, for trading in influence. However, the verdict has not yet taken legal effect, Sarkozy has appealed against it.
–
According to the court, Sarkozy was supposed to offer Judge Gilbert Azibert a lucrative post in Monaco for revealing information from police wiretaps. These talks also concerned the financing of an election campaign, this time from 2007. There is a suspicion that one of the main donors to Sarkozy’s campaign was Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, whose regime was later overthrown by an international military operation in which France played one of the main roles.
–
Despite the lawsuits described above, Sarkozy remains a very popular figure in France, his books sell well and President Emmanuel Macron likes to hear his views. When “Sarko” gave an extensive interview to the magazine three years ago Point, garnered praise and respect for his geopolitical outlook from virtually the entire political scene.
–
Among opposition Republicans, Sarkozy’s expression of support for the right-wing candidate before the presidential election is highly anticipated. It was his vote that could decide which candidate the Republicans would choose for the election. However, the former president has not yet said his choice: “It’s still too early,” he said on the show Punchline. Like Macron, however, he expressed reservations about far-right candidate Erik Zemmour.
–
It is not at all clear whether Sarkozy will support Xavier Bertrand, who held ministerial posts during his presidency, or Valeria Pécresse, head of the Île-de-France region. After all, the third option is not excluded, namely the voice of the current head of state, Macron. France is now more interested in more than Thursday’s court verdict.
— .
