France: opening of the trial of Nicolas Sarkozy for the "wiretapping" case

This is the first time in France that a former President of the Republic has appeared on the dock.

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A former President of the Republic on the dock.

This is a first in France.

Nicolas Sarkozy will appear from this Monday, November 23, 2020 before the Criminal Court of Paris, for corruption and influence peddling, in the so-called "eavesdropping" case.

Justice suspects Nicolas Sarkozy of having sought, with the support of his lawyer, Maître Thierry Herzog, to obtain information in a procedure concerning him from a high magistrate, Gilbert Azibert, against a promise to intervene for a post prestigious in Monaco. 

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The “Paul Bismuth” case is the other name of this case.

Paul Bismuth is the identity used to open the two telephone lines which Nicolas Sarkozy and Maître Thierry Herzog used to speak to each other discreetly.

At the start of 2014, they knew that they were in fact being listened to in the framework of the investigation into the

supposed Libyan financing

of the 2007 presidential campaign. When the police discovered the existence of these secret lines, they decided to monitor them too.

From the conversations between the two men, it emerges, according to the investigators, that Nicolas Sarkozy and his lawyer obtained from Gilbert Azibert, high magistrate at the Court of Cassation, information concerning a procedure launched by the former president, on the sidelines of

the 'Bettencourt case.

Information covered by professional secrecy, but also attempts to influence his colleagues, in exchange for which Nicolas Sarkozy agrees to give him a boost to get a job in Monaco that Gilbert Azibert covets but ultimately never land. 

In an

indictment

dating from October 2017, the National Financial Prosecutor's Office judges the methods used by Nicolas Sarkozy worthy of a “

seasoned delinquent

”.

The three men face 10 years in prison and a million euros fine.

The trial should open, then be adjourned as of Monday, November 23, Gilbert Azibert having filed a request for referral for medical reasons.

♦ Nicolas Sarkozy still supported by his political family

 We support our President of the Republic because we believe that this relentlessness towards him is unhealthy for democracy in general. 

There is no question of letting go of the most popular of the right-wing men.

Like many LR deputies who do not hesitate to talk about a manhunt, Damien Abad supports Nicolas Sarkozy and wonders: “

 Beyond the question of the President of the Republic, there is something deep which worries me in the evolution of French society, it is the excessive judicialization of French political life.

 "

In the sights of the right, supposedly politically motivated militant magistrates.

Whether it is Nicolas Sarkozy or others, we expect an independence of the judiciary and that it works in serenity

 ", underlines the deputy Philippe Gosselin.

Unconditional support from the right to its champion.

For lack of anything better, a year and a half before the presidential election, the Republicans still have no natural candidate, recalls Philippe Gosselin: " 

I say it without any difficulty, if Nicolas Sarkozy can be a recourse when the time comes because the situation would require it, etc., I find it rather reassuring to have a man of experience who could be there, not just for his political family, but for the whole country.

 "

Nicolas Sarkozy keeps repeating it: he has closed the door to partisan politics.

This is going very well to the young generation who also reminds us that business "is

 starting to do well 

" and that the image of the former president at the helm could " 

hurt 

" his family.

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  • French politics

  • Justice

  • Nicolas sarkozy