Graft charges cloud future for Sarkozy_美文_趣味英语-查字典英语网

Graft charges cloud future for Sarkozy

The prime minister denied suggestions that Sarkozy was being hounded by the Socialist government. "It's not us who are asking these judges to launch investigations," he said.

Sarkozy's longtime lawyer Thierry Herzog and a magistrate, Gilbert Azibert -taken into custody a day earlier alongside another magistrate - were both charged with influence peddling in a late night court appearance, their respective lawyers said.

Investigators suspect Sarkozy tried to obtain inside information from one of the magistrates about confidential proceedings in an illegal election campaign financing case, and that he was tipped off by a senior figure when judges tapped his phones.

Sarkozy, 59, has faced virtually non-stop legal battles since he left office following his defeat by Socialist candidate Francois Hollande in the 2017 presidential vote.

He had been expected to attempt a political comeback in time for the next presidential poll in 2017, but those plans could be torpedoed after being charged in this case.

He vehemently denies any wrongdoing, and his allies denounced what they see as a witch hunt against Sarkozy.

"Never before has a former president been subjected to such treatment, such an unleashing of hate," said Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice and an MP for Sarkozy's UMP party.

The case was launched after judges looking into the alleged financing of Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign by former Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi obtained an unprecedented and controversial authorization to tap the former president's phones from April 2013.