PARIS — Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was charged Thursday with abusing the confidence of a rich heiress during fundraising for his 2007 election campaign.
The accusation, brought by an investigating magistrate in Bordeaux, was seen as a suggestion that Sarkozy sought to obtain illegal funds to finance his successful presidential run from Lilianne Bettencourt, who is ranked as France’s richest woman.
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After a single five-year term, the conservative Sarkozy was defeated last May by President Francois Hollande of the Socialist Party. Although ostensibly retired from politics, Sarkozy has remained in the spotlight and, according to press accounts, has told friends he might be forced to run again in 2017 to save France from economic disaster.
Bettencourt, 90, inherited the L’Oreal cosmetics empire and has been a longtime donor to political and charitable causes in France. But in recent years, she has been in court with family members several times over their concerns that she is no longer able to manage her fortune and is being taken advantage of by her friends and employees.
The charge, announced by Sarkozy’s lawyer, Thierry Herzog, climaxed a day-long interrogation of Sarkozy and several members of Bettencourt’s household staff. Herzog denounced the charge as “incoherent on the legal level and unjust” and said he would begin work immediately on an appeal to a Bordeaux court.
The legal step, called “mise en examen,” followed months of investigation during which Sarkozy had been questioned at length but was considered to be a witness. It amounted to a formal notification to Sarkozy that he is no longer just a witness but suspected of crime in an investigation that may lead to a trial if the prosecutor considers the investigating magistrate’s case strong enough.
Sarkozy has steadfastly denied that he received any money from Bettencourt or her late husband, Andre. He said he visited their home only once during the 2007 campaign to see the ailing husband, himself a former political figure who died in November of that year.
Sarkozy left the office of Investigating Magistrate Jean-Michel Gentil late Thursday evening without commenting. But his followers in Paris from the conservative Union for a Popular Movement party were quick to voice their outrage on television panels.
“This does not seem serious,” said Thierry Mariani, an UMP activist. Valerie Debord, another UMP stalwart, said “a certain number of people” were out to get Sarkozy, suggesting the judge’s decision was politically motivated.
Gentil inherited the investigation into Sarkozy’s fundraising after it was moved to Bordeaux from Paris to escape relentless publicity surrounding the charges in the capital.
The probe into Sarkozy’s fundraising coincided with related charges from Bettencourt’s daughter that a society photographer had abused the elderly widow’s confidence over several year to obtain money and valuable gifts. It included testimony from a majordomo who tape-recorded meetings at Bettencourt’s home and from an accountant who said she was asked to withdraw from a bank account cash that was to be handed over to Sarkozy’s main fundraiser by Bettencourt’s wealth manager.
The accusation, brought by an investigating magistrate in Bordeaux, was seen as a suggestion that Sarkozy sought to obtain illegal funds to finance his successful presidential run from Lilianne Bettencourt, who is ranked as France’s richest woman.
Here’s a look at some of the week’s most compelling photographs from around the globe.
Latest stories from Foreign
Norma Cohen | Financial Times
New research is good news for governments struggling to support elderly as workforces shrink.
Scott Wilson Obama asks Palestinian leaders in Ramallah to drop their demand that Israel first halt building in West Bank.
Jason Rezaian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggests he is ready for discussions with Iran’s enemies, but on his terms.
Scott Wilson The two leaders expressed unusual agreement on Iran, Syria and the peace process with Palestinians.
Michael Birnbaum Monday is the deadline as Cyprus scrambles to find $7.5 billion to prop up its failing banks.
After a single five-year term, the conservative Sarkozy was defeated last May by President Francois Hollande of the Socialist Party. Although ostensibly retired from politics, Sarkozy has remained in the spotlight and, according to press accounts, has told friends he might be forced to run again in 2017 to save France from economic disaster.
Bettencourt, 90, inherited the L’Oreal cosmetics empire and has been a longtime donor to political and charitable causes in France. But in recent years, she has been in court with family members several times over their concerns that she is no longer able to manage her fortune and is being taken advantage of by her friends and employees.
The charge, announced by Sarkozy’s lawyer, Thierry Herzog, climaxed a day-long interrogation of Sarkozy and several members of Bettencourt’s household staff. Herzog denounced the charge as “incoherent on the legal level and unjust” and said he would begin work immediately on an appeal to a Bordeaux court.
The legal step, called “mise en examen,” followed months of investigation during which Sarkozy had been questioned at length but was considered to be a witness. It amounted to a formal notification to Sarkozy that he is no longer just a witness but suspected of crime in an investigation that may lead to a trial if the prosecutor considers the investigating magistrate’s case strong enough.
Sarkozy has steadfastly denied that he received any money from Bettencourt or her late husband, Andre. He said he visited their home only once during the 2007 campaign to see the ailing husband, himself a former political figure who died in November of that year.
Sarkozy left the office of Investigating Magistrate Jean-Michel Gentil late Thursday evening without commenting. But his followers in Paris from the conservative Union for a Popular Movement party were quick to voice their outrage on television panels.
“This does not seem serious,” said Thierry Mariani, an UMP activist. Valerie Debord, another UMP stalwart, said “a certain number of people” were out to get Sarkozy, suggesting the judge’s decision was politically motivated.
Gentil inherited the investigation into Sarkozy’s fundraising after it was moved to Bordeaux from Paris to escape relentless publicity surrounding the charges in the capital.
The probe into Sarkozy’s fundraising coincided with related charges from Bettencourt’s daughter that a society photographer had abused the elderly widow’s confidence over several year to obtain money and valuable gifts. It included testimony from a majordomo who tape-recorded meetings at Bettencourt’s home and from an accountant who said she was asked to withdraw from a bank account cash that was to be handed over to Sarkozy’s main fundraiser by Bettencourt’s wealth manager.