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Nicolas Sarkozy: French ex-president ordered to stand trial

A French judge has ordered ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy to stand trial in an illegal campaign finance case.

Mr Sarkozy faces accusations that his party falsified accounts in order to hide 18m euros (£15m; $20m) of campaign spending in 2012.

Mr Sarkozy denies he was aware of the overspending, and will appeal against the order to stand trial.

He lost the 2012 race, and failed in his bid to run again in this year's upcoming presidential election.

What charges does Mr Sarkozy face?

The case is known as the Bygmalion scandal.

It centres on claims that Mr Sarkozy's party, then known as the UMP, connived with a friendly PR company to hide the true cost of his 2012 presidential election campaign.

France sets limits on campaign spending, and it is alleged the firm Bygmalion invoiced Mr Sarkozy's party rather than the campaign, allowing the UMP to spend almost double the amount permitted.

Employees at Bygmalion have admitted knowledge of the ruse and several UMP members already face charges.

The investigation into Mr Sarkozy centres on whether the ex-leader was aware of the alleged fraud.

Thirteen other people are also expected to be tried.

However, Mr Sarkozy's lawyer, Thierry Herzog, has said he will launch an appeal against the trial order, because only one of the two judges handling the case signed the order.

"The clear disagreement between the two magistrates in charge of the matter is such a rare event that it is worth underlining, as it illustrates the inanity of the decision," Mr Herzog said in a statement.

Growing scrutiny

The development comes as other French politicians have faced questions over their financial dealings.

Francois Fillon, who beat Mr Sarkozy to become the centre-right's candidate for the presidential race, is accused of misusing public funds to employ his wife and two children.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament is demanding France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen return funds it says she has misspent, by paying an aide at the National Front party's headquarters in Paris.

Mr Sarkozy is the second French president to be put on trial since 1958, when the current French republic was established.

Former leader Jacques Chirac was given a two-year suspended prison sentence in 2011 for diverting public funds and abusing public trust.

Who is Nicolas Sarkozy?

Son of a Hungarian immigrant and a French mother of Greek-Jewish origin; grew up in Paris

Began his political career as mayor of the affluent Paris suburb of Neuilly from 1983 to 2002

Nicknamed president "bling-bling" by critics for his flashy leadership style

As president, pushed through reforms including raising the retirement age from 60 to 62 and relaxing the 35-hour working week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38890993

I hope that François Fillon, the actual Rightist candidate for presidency will follow the same way.

Piling wrote:I hope that François Fillon, the actual Rightist candidate for presidency will follow the same way.

Mr Sarkozy is the second French president to be put on trial since 1958, when the current French republic was established.

Former leader Jacques Chirac was given a two-year suspended prison sentence in 2011 for diverting public funds and abusing public trust.

France does appear to have a lot of problems with it's leaders - perhaps it needs a strong National Front leader to sort it out

The current leader of Front National has stolen 300 000 euros and other amounts from public money.

No thank you. UK has chosen to follow UKIP policy, USA is ruled by an insane narcissist, Russia has Putin, but I hope that EU will stay the last free democratic area.

Piling wrote:The current leader of Front National has stolen 300 000 euros and other amounts from public money.

No thank you. UK has chosen to follow UKIP policy, USA is ruled by an insane narcissist, Russia has Putin, but I hope that EU will stay the last free democratic area.

There is NO real democracy anywhere

Europe is controlled by a lot of overpaid idiots who are following Hitler's united ideology of a united Europe

Talk to people who REALLY lived under Hitler's rule, especially Jews, and ask them if they feel the same fear under EU

Beside, Hitler's fans, Far right parties and white supremacists and nationalists are against EU, as Nazis and Communists were against democracies.

Piling wrote:Talk to people who REALLY lived under Hitler's rule, especially Jews, and ask them if they feel the same fear under EU

People always seem to forget that the Jews were not the only people who Hitler had killed

Hitler had some good ideas at first - before he started on the mind-bending drugs - then he decided he was GOD and wanted to rid Germany of everyone non-German and/or mentally or physically imperfect. Erdogan is starting to sound and act just like Hitler

Perhaps Hitler did not see that what he was doing was wrong, especially as America was happy to help him with his death camps

It was only when Hitler decided he wanted to take over control of Europe that other countries were remotely interested in what Hitler was doing to the Jews and the disabled

Piling wrote:Beside, Hitler's fans, Far right parties and white supremacists and nationalists are against EU, as Nazis and Communists were against democracies.

People are against the EU because it has put some CRAZY unwelcome and unwanted laws into UK governance, without the UK population or our representatives having any say in the matter. Most of the EU laws are made by uncontrolled, overpaid, unelected officials working in small private rooms

I doubt very much that America would allow another country to control it's laws

I know that Jews are not the one, but they are the main targets. Of course we can add that gipsies, homosexuals, disabled people, etc, who, in 40s would have been very HAPPY to live instead in EU tyranny.

I am curious to know which good ideas had Hitler at first. All his program was written in prison after 1923 in Mein Kampf : extermination, women only considered good for reproduction, etc.

Perhaps Hitler did not see that what he was doing was wrong, especially as America was happy to help him with his death camps

Oh, come on. Allies were directly informed of extermination camps but they never helped. Some could just reproach to have not been active enough to rescue refugees, especially America (as now). Extermination program was Nazi from the start to the end, and stayed secret.

Thousands of people tried to escape from Naziland. The curious thing is that millions of people now dream to reach EU "dictatorship". Uncommon for a tyrannic regime.

People are against the EU because it has put some CRAZY unwelcome and unwanted laws into UK governance, without the UK population or our representatives having any say in the matter. Most of the EU laws are made by uncontrolled, overpaid, unelected officials working in small private rooms

If Eu was Hitlerian, they would have launched a war against UK for the Brexit. But as EU are civilized and democratic countries they said you "good bye and good luck alone" It is May who wanted to leave BUT to keep all trade benefits of a EU membership. So EU answered : NO WAY, BYE BYE.

I doubt very much that America would allow another country to control it's laws

Currently, American laws are threatened to be violated and control by a mad man, only one.

Curry-beef vs biryani-French fries.

Piling wrote:Curry-beef vs biryani-French fries.

Cease-fire please!!!