France’s ex-leader Sarkozy on trial over Gaddafi’s illegal funding slams opponents for plotting ‘conspiracy’

Former French President Sarkozy remained defiant during his trial at a Paris court on Thursday (9 January), as he told the judges that the supposed illegal Libyan financing of his successful 2007 presidential bid was a “conspiracy,” stating “You will never find a single Libyan euro or cent in my campaign.”

Sarkozy has gone on trial earlier this week over allegations he received millions of euros in illegal election campaign funding from the regime of the former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, in the biggest political financing scandal in modern French history. But the 69-year-old ex-president, who held office from 2007 to 2012, strongly condemned what he called a “conspiracy” orchestrated by “liars and crooks ” during the trial at a Paris court. Sarkozy, who faces a number of charges, including passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds, and criminal association, strongly rebuffed the allegations, telling the judges that not “a single Libyan euro or cent” can be found in his campaign.

After a 10-year anti-corruption investigation, during this historic trial of the French ex-president, three former government ministers and other people will stand before the court on allegations of a “corruption pact” forged between Sarkozy and the Libyan regime. The judges will examine whether, in exchange for suitcases full of cash allegedly destined to be used to fund Sarkozy’s presidential campaign, the Libyan regime requested diplomatic, legal and business favors. The ex-president stated that claims from Libya about the alleged funding of his campaign came just hours after he famously declared in 2011 that “Gadhafi must go.” If found guilty in this case, Sarkozy could face up to 10 years in prison and 375,000 euros in fines. The trial is scheduled to last until April 10.