Nicolas Sarkozy Charged with Corruption

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Former president of France formally charged in a move which could wreck hopes of political comeback

France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with corruption and influence peddling, French prosecutors said on Wednesday, a dramatic move in a criminal probe that could wreck his hopes of a political comeback.

The decision came after Mr Sarkozy was questioned for 15 hours, marking the first time a French ex-head of state had been taken into custody in a criminal investigation.

The right-wing leader had been detained at a police station in a Paris suburb in connection with a suspected attempt to illegally influence judicial proceedings in one of a raft of colourful corruption cases he is implicated in.

Mr Sarkozy turned up at the station in Nanterre in a black saloon car with tinted windows at 8:00 am (0600 GMT).

After the lengthy questioning, the former president was taken in the early hours of Wednesday to appear before a judge, where he was charged with corruption and influence peddling, the prosecution said in a statement to AFP.

If convicted of those charges, he could face a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. » | AFP | Wednesday, July 02, 2014

French Ex-President Sarkozy Held Over Influence Claims

BBC: French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy has been detained for questioning over alleged influence peddling.

Mr Sarkozy is being held at Nanterre, near Paris, in an unprecedented step against a former president.

Mr Sarkozy is being questioned about whether he sought inside information from a judge concerning an investigation into campaign funding.

The latest developments are seen as a blow to Mr Sarkozy's attempts to challenge for the presidency in 2017.

Investigators are trying to find out whether Mr Sarkozy, 59, who was president from 2007 to 2012, had promised a prestigious role in Monaco to a high-ranking judge, Gilbert Azibert, in exchange for information about an investigation into alleged illegal campaign funding.

They are looking into claims that Mr Sarkozy was warned his phone was being bugged as part of the funding probe.

Mr Azibert, one of the most senior judges at the court of appeal, was called in for questioning on Monday. Another judge, Patrick Sassoust, was also questioned, as was Mr Sarkozy's lawyer Thierry Herzog. (+ video) » | Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Nicolas Sarkozy Calls for End of Europe's Visa-free Schengen Area

Nicolas Sarkozy

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Former French president calls for more exclusive "Schengen II" and the return of powers to national governments from Brussels

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has called for the end of Europe's visa-free Schengen area in order to protect the country's ailing social system.

Writing in an opinion piece in Le Point magazine on Thursday, Mr Sarkozy also called for powers to be handed back to national governments from Brussels. » | Andrew Marszal, and AFP | Thursday, May 22, 2014

EXCLUSIF. Sarkozy au "Point" : "Nous devons être européens et français" »

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Approves Nicolas Sarkozy's 2017 Presidential Bid

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has thrown her support behind her husband
Nicolas Sarkozy's comeback plan

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Carla Bruni-Sarkozy rubber stamps husband Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to run for re-election as president in 2017, stating it would be good for France

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has thrown her support behind her husband Nicolas Sarkozy's comeback plan, saying it would be good for France if he ran for the presidency in 2017.

The 46-year old supermodel-turned-singer who married Mr Sarkozy in 2008 told a US chat show host that while she was not personally keen on him returning to frontline politics, she would support him if that was his wish.

"I want him to be happy and I care about my country," she told Ellen DeGeneres, the talk-show host.

Looking slightly embarrassed, as Mr Sarkozy was in the audience, she added: "As a woman I wish he wasn't going back. But as a French citizen, yes. He never stops me doing anything I like. He just encourages me. So I don't see myself saying 'don't do it'." Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy was in New York to promote her fourth album, Little French Songs. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Un rendez-vous secret entre Nicolas Sarkozy et Angela Merkel ?

Selon "Le Parisien". Nicolas Sarkozy et le chancelière allemande Angela Merkel
"ont prévu de se voir très prochainement sans doute en Allemagne".

LE POINT: Nicolas Sarkozy, qui se rendra à Berlin le 28 février pour une conférence devant la fondation de la CDU, pourrait en profiter pour rencontrer Angela Merkel.

Nicolas Sarkozy se rendra à Berlin le 28 février pour donner une conférence sur le thème des relations franco-allemandes devant la Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung, la fondation de la CDU, parti d'Angela Merkel, a-t-on appris lundi de sources concordantes. Selon un porte-parole de la CDU à Berlin, cette conférence portera sur le thème des relations franco-allemandes et sur l'avenir de l'Europe.

Vingt-deux mois après la défaite électorale de mai 2012, le couple "Merkozy" serait-il en passe de se reformer ? Le Parisien affirme en tout cas lundi, sans préciser de date, que l'ancien président et la chancelière allemande Angela Merkel "ont prévu de se voir très prochainement, sans doute en Allemagne". Cette rencontre, précise le journal, "a été préparée dans le plus grand secret par leurs deux entourages pour éviter 'les interprétations fâcheuses'". » | Le Point.fr | mardi 18 février 2014

Nicolas Sarkozy Plans 2017 Comeback

THE GUARDIAN: Bernadette Chirac says former French president will run against man who ousted him, François Hollande, at next election

That Nicolas Sarkozy is contemplating his comeback is hardly a secret in France.

Now one of the former president's most high-profile supporters and confidantes, the former first lady Bernadette Chirac, has confirmed Sarkozy is planning a return to the political fray.

Asked by Europe 1 radio on Wednesday whether she thought he would stand against the Socialist president François Hollande in three years, Chirac, replied: "I hope so!"

Pressed as to whether she had inside information, she said: "Ah, but I'm not allowed to say it," before finally admitting that Sarkozy had spoken to her and was indeed planning to stand in 2017.

"Well obviously," she told the radio station, adding: "But, he's going to tell me off for this."

Chirac, whose husband Jacques was president between 1995 and 2007 when he was succeeded by Sarkozy, has made little secret of her hopes of seeing the centre-right candidate make a comeback. While Sarkozy has refused to comment, he has indicated to friends that he is inclined to stand for a second term in office in 2017. » | Kim Willsher in Paris | Wednesday, January 22, 2014

'Francois Hollande Looks Totally Ridiculous,' French Newspaper Claims Nicolas Sarkozy Said

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nicolas Sarkozy has reportedly said that his successor, President Francois Hollande, "looks totally ridiculous" as he seemingly emerges from his mistress's apartment wearing a motorbike helmet - and has gloated about how well in comparison he handled his blossoming relationship with Carla Bruni

François Hollande has made the French presidency look "ridiculous" with his scooter-driven nocturnal trips to visit his mistress, Nicolas Sarkozy was reported as saying on Wednesday.

As the scandal over Mr Hollande's affair with Julie Gayet, a 41-year old actress, continued to reverberate around France, Le Canard Enchaîné, the investigative weekly, said that Mr Sarkozy – his Right-wing predecessor – has been gloating over his rival's woes.

"He's got himself into a right old pickle," he was reported as saying to "visitors".

"Perhaps this will put an end to all his moralising," said Mr Sarkozy, whose Socialist successor has often accused of shamelessly exploiting his private life for political gain.

"With Carla, we tried to quickly make our relationship official because I didn't want a photo taken one sordid morning or after nightfall," Le Canard cites him as saying.

"While everyone has the right to a private life, when one is a public figure and president, one must be careful to avoid being ridiculous," he is quoted as scoffing.

"Well, that photo of Hollande coming out of his mistress' place with a motorbike helmet makes Hollande look totally ridiculous. He is the ridiculous president." Read on and comment » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Nicolas Sarkozy: My Return Is Destiny - I Don't Have a Choice

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nicolas Sarkozy drops strongest hint yet he will make a presidential comeback in 2017, as new opinion poll shows him almost twice as popular as Francois Hollande

Nicolas Sarkozy has given his strongest indication so far that he plans to return to politics and battle Francois Hollande for the French presidency in 2017.

"The question is not to know if I want or don't want to return. I cannot not return. I don't have a choice. It's destiny. Destiny," he has told several friends and political allies, according to Thursday’s edition of Le Point weekly magazine.

The comments came as a new opinion poll in Le Figaro showed that the rightwing ex-president is far more popular than Mr Hollande, with 46 per cent of voters saying they would like to have Mr Sarkozy as head of state and just 27 per cent plumping for the Socialist. » | Rory Mulholland, Paris | Thursday, December 12, 2013

Nicolas Sarkozy Shares the Limelight at Carla Bruni Comeback Show

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Carla Bruni was supposed to be the star of the show, writes Rory Mulholland. And her husband Nicolas Sarkozy was none too pleased at being asked about his political aspirations

It was the sultry supermodel-turned-singer in the spotlight who should have captivated the audience, but the real star of Carla Bruni's comeback show was her diminutive political husband tucked backstage.

As Bruni resumed her stage career with a sell-out concert in Paris, Mr Sarkozy, who has kept France guessing about whether he plans another run at the presidency, was greeted with rapturous applause and chants of "Nicolas, Nicolas!" when he slipped into a back row seat next to the sound engineer at the Casino de Paris on Saturday night.

The conservative politician was mobbed by fans seeking autographs and photos and calling for François Hollande, the current Socialist president, to "Get out" and for "Nicolas" to return to the fray. Read on and comment » | Rory Mulholland, Paris | Sunday, November 24, 2013

Can Nicolas Sarkozy Stage Another Comeback? Court Ruling Clears Way for Former French President to Reclaim His Throne

THE INDEPENDENT: Liberated by a ruling last week that spares him the humiliation of a trial for the alleged fleecing of the ailing nonagenarian billionairess Liliane Bettencourt, Nicolas Sarkozy has been "energised", say his friends. Thus reinvigorated, he intends to rise from the political grave next year and begin a three-year campaign to reclaim the Elysée Palace.

The former president hopes to jump back into the ring early next summer when he expects mainstream politicians of both left and right to have been discredited by a far right triumph in the European elections.

In recent months, he has carefully constructed an ambiguous status as a youthful – he is 58 – political retiree and the nation's not-quite-declared saviour-in-waiting. With the threat of a Bettencourt trial removed, some commentators suggest he may re-enter full-time politics before the New Year. » | John Lichfield | Paris | Sunday, October 13, 2013

Nicolas Sarkozy's Corruption Charges Dropped

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Way could be cleared for Nicolas Sarkozy's political return after claims that corruption charges into the Bettencourt affair are dropped

Corruption charges against Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president, linked to the financing of his 2007 election campaign, have been dropped, according to sources.

Such a decision could clear the way for Mr Sarkozy to return to front line politics in time for the 2017 presidential election against Francois Hollande. Opinion polls suggest that a rematch of the 2012 election would see Mr Sarkozy victorious.

Mr Sarkozy had been charged in March with accepting funds from Liliane Bettencourt, France's richest woman and the L'Oreal [sic] heiress. » | Chris Irvine, agencies | Monday, October 07, 2013

Nicolas Sarkozy's 'Shocking Comments' Lost Him Election, Says Ex-wife

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nicolas Sarkozy displayed a “worrying impulsiveness” and his “shocking comments” to woo the far-Right lost him the last election, according to his ex-wife in extracts of a “tell-all” autobiography released today

Cecilia [sic] Attias, whose marriage to Mr Sarkozy, the former French president, lasted for 11 years until their divorce in 2007, has said he was an impulsive man who would fly into rages, in contrast to his public image. The couple had a well-publicised split when she left Mr Sarkozy in May 2005 for several months for the international communications consultant, Richard Attias. She returned to her husband in the run-up to the 2007 elections, but they divorced later that year.

In her new book Une Envie de Vérité (A Desire For Truth), extracts of which were published in Le Point and Elle magazine, the 55-year-old former model reveals that she fell for the “solid and calm” Mr Attias in contrast to the “misleading superficiality” of Mr Sarkozy.

In some of the most damaging extracts for a man widely tipped to be seeking to make a presidential comeback in 2017, Mrs Attias comments on Mr Sarkozy’s temperament and political judgment.

“It is strange that a man who in private was totally placid and would never raise his voice could — notably later — give such an impulsive image of himself,” she writes. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Thursday, October 03, 2013

Sarkozy's Back: Ex-President Takes Aim at Hollande's Policies

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: While French President François Hollande deals with dismal jobless figures and turmoil surrounding the recent legalization of gay marriage, his upbeat predecessor goes on the thinly veiled offensive in Montreal. "When I look at those who succeeded me," Nicolas Sarkozy says, "I feel very good."

Nicolas Sarkozy seems to be living proof that politics is an unhealthy profession. One year after he was voted out of office, the former French president was looking better than ever as he put in an appearance at the Montreal Convention Center last Thursday. Well tanned and full of energy, he stood grinning with his feet planted wide apart -- no comparison with the gray-faced and exhausted man who lost last year's French presidential election. » | Monday, April 29, 2013

Could Nicolas Sarkozy Return to France's Presidency?

BBC: After a 30-year career in public life Nicolas Sarkozy left the Elysee [sic] Palace pledging "never to return".

But barely a year on the polls would suggest that if an election was held today, the former president would trounce the incumbent Francois Hollande and on the right, he remains the preferred candidate to stand in 2017.

Since May his appearances have been few and far between. These days, the ex-president sports a light designer stubble. Its a more relaxed, care-free image. Perhaps all part of the bigger plan.

"The game is to entertain the thought of a comeback," said Pierre Rousselin, commentator for the right wing newspaper Le Figaro. "He won't come back unless people ask for him to come back. And in French politics, the presidency is won over the heads of the parties - what really matters is the relationship between the candidate and the public opinion at large."

Asked about Mr Sarkozy's possible return the former interior minister Claude Guéant said: "When I see what's going on, when I look at what was achieved in his presidency, I think France should turn to him." (+ BBC video) » | Christian Fraser | BBC News, Paris | Saturday, April 13, 2013

Sarkozy Charged Over Campaign Donations
Ex-president accused of accepting illegal donations from L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, France's richest woman

Verwandt »

Sarkozy — vom Präsidentenpalast in den Knast?
HANDELSBLATT: Ex-Präsidenten Sarkozy droht im schlimmsten Fall eine Gefängnisstrafe. Denn es wird nicht leicht sein, die Vorwürfe des illegal finanzierten Wahlkampfs zu entkräften. Sein politisches Comeback rückt in weite Ferne.

Paris Nicolas Sarkozy könnte der erste französische Ex-Präsident werden, der ins Gefängnis muss. Seit dem späten Donnerstagabend ist er Beschuldigter in der sogenannten Bettencourt-Affäre, bei der es um illegale Spenden der reichsten Frau der Welt geht. Sarkozy soll, so die Vorwürfe, die Schwäche der 90-jährigen, stark dementen l’Oréal-Erbin ausgenützt haben, um 2007 seinen Wahlkampf um die Präsidentschaft zu finanzieren.

Wenn es seinem Anwalt nicht gelingt, die vom Untersuchungsrichter Jean-Michel Gentil zusammen getragenen Verdachtsmomente zu widerlegen, wird der im Mai 2012 abgewählte Sarkozy sich schon sehr bald vor Gericht verantworten müssen. Im Falle der Verurteilung drohen ihm drei Jahre Haft und eine Geldbuße von fast 400 000 Euro sowie der Verlust des passiven Wahlrechts für fünf Jahre. » | Von Thomas Hanker | Freitag, 22. März 2013

HANDELSBLATT: Traum vom Comeback »


Lien en relation avec l’article »

Bettencourt : Nicolas Sarkozy est sorti du palais de justice de Bordeaux
LE POINT: L'ancien président a été confronté au majordome. La justice s'est intéressée à la fréquence de ses visites au domicile des Bettencourt.


Une confrontation inhabituelle entre l'ancien président de la République Nicolas Sarkozy et plusieurs membres du personnel de Liliane Bettencourt s'est déroulée jeudi à Bordeaux dans la plus grande discrétion, pour vérifier si l'ancien chef de l'État s'était rendu une ou plusieurs fois chez la milliardaire pendant sa campagne en 2007, et s'il l'a vue. L'ancien président, selon des sources proches du dossier, a été notamment confronté à l'ex-majordome des Bettencourt Pascal Bonnefoy, dont l'arrivée au Palais de justice, à la mi-journée, a été rapportée par un témoin. Mais personne n'a vu entrer l'ancien président ou d'autres membres du personnel.

Nicolas Sarkozy, convoqué par le juge Jean-Michel Gentil dans le cadre du dossier sur les abus de faiblesse dont aurait été victime l'héritière de L'Oréal depuis septembre 2006, date à laquelle les experts font remonter le début de l'affaiblissement mental de la milliardaire, avait été placé sous le statut de témoin assisté par le juge le 22 novembre 2012, à l'issue de douze heures d'audition. Après l'incroyable attente des journalistes pendant trois semaines sur le trottoir du Palais de justice et la cohue de cette journée-là, "le juge avait toujours dit qu'en cas de nouvelle audition personne n'en saurait rien", rappelait malicieusement jeudi un connaisseur du dossier. » | Source AFP | jeudi 21 mars 2013

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nicolas Sarkozy placed under formal investigation: Nicolas Sarkozy has been placed under formal investigation for allegedly taking advantage of the ailing L'Oreal [sic] heiress Liliane Bettencourt and accepting cash-stuffed brown envelopes from her to illegally fund his 2007 election campaign. » | Henry Samuel in Paris | Thursday, March 21, 2013

«Les Bettencourt ne m'ont jamais donné un sou»

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: «Les Bettencourt ne m'ont jamais donné un sou», a déclaré jeudi Nicolas Sarkozy aux juges bordelais en charge de l'affaire Bettencourt, selon Sud Ouest qui a pu consulter le procès-verbal d'audition et en publiera samedi les déclarations les plus marquantes.

Nicolas Sarkozy s'est défendu, lors de son audition chez les juges jeudi, d'avoir touché un sou des Bettencourt.

«Ils ne m'ont jamais donné un sou et je ne leur en ai jamais demandé», a notamment dit Nicolas Sarkozy au cours de ces douze heures d'audition transcrites en «32 pages de documents» dont Sud Ouest assure sur son site internet avoir vu l'intégralité. Concernant le financement éventuel de sa campagne présidentielle de 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy déclare : «Je connais les Bettencourt depuis 28 ans et j'en ai 57. J'ai fait cinq campagnes municipales à Neuilly : ils ne m'ont jamais donné un sou et je ne leur en ai jamais demandé.» » | afp/Newsnet | vendredi 23 novembre 2012

France: Une pétition et une chanson pour le retour de Sarkozy
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Le lancement d'une pétition pour son retour, une chanson à sa gloire vue plus d'un million de fois sur Youtube, une popularité en hausse. A droite, les Français sont nostalgiques de Nicolas Sarkozy.


«La Sarkonostalgie», comme les médias français l'ont joliment nommée continue à se poursuivre à droite. Lundi, le courant de l’UMP Droite forte a annoncé le lancement d’une pétition en faveur de Nicolas Sarkozy.

«Trop, c’est trop ! Après avoir critiqué la campagne présidentielle de 2012, certains affirment maintenant vouloir 'tourner la page'», s’insurge dans un communiqué le courant de la Droite forte animé par Geoffroy Didier et Guillaume Peltier, qui ont tous deux pris parti pour Jean-François Copé dans son duel avec François Fillon pour la présidence de l’UMP.

«Avec la Droite forte, nous disons que nous serons toujours aux côtés de Nicolas Sarkozy s’il souhaite revenir !», poursuit le communiqué des deux jeunes UMP. Le texte proposé est le suivant: «En signant cette pétition, nous, citoyens Français, adressons un message de remerciement et de reconnaissance à Nicolas Sarkozy et affirmons que la France aura encore besoin de lui à l’avenir.» » | afp/LD/Newsnet | lundi 12 novembre 2012

Sarkozy Faces Court Over Allegations He Accepted Illegal Cash From Wealthy L'Oreal [sic] Heiress

MAIL ONLINE: Sarkozy will be grilled about his highly suspicious relationship with l’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt / The 57-year-old is said to have personally accepted brown envelopes full of cash from the multi-millionaire’s family / It is alleged they were paid to help fund Mr Sarkozy’s 2007 election campaign in return for massive tax breaks when he came to office

Nicolas Sarkozy will this week appear before a judge to answer allegations that he accepted illegal cash from France’s richest woman, it emerged today.

In a humiliating process which could end with the former president being jailed, Mr Sarkozy has been summoned to a court in Bordeaux.

There he will be grilled by Judge Jean-Michel Gentil about his highly suspicious relationship with l’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.

Mr Sarkozy, 57, is said to have personally accepted brown envelopes full of cash from the multi-millionaire’s family.

They were paid to help fund Mr Sarkozy’s 2007 election campaign, in return for massive tax breaks when he came to office, it is alleged.

Fraud squad officers have already raided the Paris home Mr Sarkozy shares with his former supermodel wife, Carla Bruni. » | Peter Allen | Monday, November 05, 2012