Sarkozy to be tried over 2012 campaign funding

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is to face trial on charges of illegally financing his failed 2012 re-election bid, according to prosecutors. One of the two investigating magistrates in charge of the case decided that it should go to trial, a legal source told AFP news agency on Tuesday. The prosecution claims Sarkozy spent nearly […]

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is to face trial on charges of illegally financing his failed 2012 re-election bid, according to prosecutors.
One of the two investigating magistrates in charge of the case decided that it should go to trial, a legal source told AFP news agency on Tuesday.
The prosecution claims Sarkozy spent nearly double the legal limit of $24m on his lavish campaign, using false billing from a public relations firm called Bygmalion.
It is understood that 13 other individuals will also go on trial over the so-called “Bygmalion Affair”.
Sarkozy’s lawyer announced plans to appeal the decision.
Bygmalion charged $16.2m in campaign events to Sarkozy’s party – which at the time was called the UMP but has since been renamed the Republicans – instead of billing the president’s campaign.