Nicolas Sarkozy should face trial along with aides on charges that his unsuccessful re-election campaign four years ago received illegal funding, French prosecutors reportedly recommended on Monday.
The move is a major blow to the former French president’s hopes to run for re-election next year just days after he announced his decision to join the race, the UK’s Daily Telegraph reports.
Mr Sarkozy, whose book, “All for France”, released end of August, topped the Best Sellers List after selling 32,000 copies within the first three days, was already under formal investigation in the affair, and prosecutors feel there is sufficient evidence against him and 13 other party members, for the case to go to trial. Investigating magistrates now have one month to make the final decision on whether the case should come to court, meaning their ruling could come just days before presidential primaries of Mr Sarkozy’s Republicans party, held on November 20 and 27.
The case initially centred on allegations that false bills via an events company called Bygmalion amounting to €18 million were used to mask the fact that Mr Sarkozy’s party – then called the UMP – had massively surpassed campaign spending limits in 2012. The inquiry then widened last October to include another €13.5 million. Illegal party funding carries a maximum prison sentence of a year and a €3750 fine.
In France, campaign spending limits for the 2012 presidential election were €22.5million, a figure his party is accused of vastly surpassing.