Paris, November 30, 2020. Nicolas Sarkozy arrives at the Paris court where he is to be tried for active corruption and influence peddling.

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STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP

  • The trial for "active corruption" and "influence peddling" of Nicolas Sarkozy opened on November 23 before the 32nd chamber of the judicial tribunal.

    He faces a ten-year prison sentence.

  • In this case, the former President of the Republic is accused of having entered into a "corruption pact" with the magistrate Gilbert Azibert, on the sidelines of the "Bettencourt procedure".

  • This Monday, he will finally have the opportunity to explain himself at the bar on the facts with which he is accused.

    He has already warned that he will answer "all questions".

At the Paris court,

A lion in a cage.

Since the opening of his trial for "active corruption" and "influence peddling" on November 23, Nicolas Sarkozy has been stamping his feet at the idea of ​​finally being able to express himself seven years after the facts with which he is accused.

He will have the opportunity this Monday.

Christine Mée, the president of the 32nd chamber responsible for examining the so-called “Paul Bismuth wiretapping” affair scheduled her questioning at 1:30 pm.

The goal ?

Trying to determine if he has actually entered into a "corruption pact" with magistrate Gilbert Azibert on the sidelines of the "Bettencourt" affair.

“You don't realize how much effort he has to make to sit still and say nothing from the start,” smiles a member of his defense team.

"Combative" by his own admission, the former President of the Republic has difficulty concealing his impatience.

The permanent movements of his left foot on the upright of the red chair on which he is patient illustrate this perfectly.

Not to mention the sitting suspensions where he can not help but jump up to go and discuss here with a lawyer, there with a police officer when it is not directly with the journalists who follow the hearing.

For him, these are only "infamies"

In this case, the former head of state is accused of "active corruption".

A first for a president under the Fifth Republic.

He is suspected of having obtained information on the Bettencourt file covered by secrecy from the magistrate Gilbert Azibert in exchange for a "boost" to get him a prestigious post in Monaco.

He has always denied the facts.

And made a point of recalling it, on November 23, when his trial was barely opening.

While the president launched into a simple reminder of the facts calling for no reaction, he apologized and insisted on indicating that he did not recognize "any of the infamies with which [he] has been pursued for six years.

»Atmosphere ...

The former head of state has things to say

The case owes its name to Paul Bismuth, an assumed name which Nicolas Sarkozy and his historical lawyer used to open a secret line.

A line which has been the subject of eavesdropping by the judges, arousing the cold anger of lawyers, attached to their professional secrecy.

But while Thierry Herzog, Nicolas Sarkozy's lawyer and warned with him in the case, did not agree to answer questions on the tapping during his interrogation, Nicolas Sarkozy has already warned that he would not have the same attitude.

#Sarkozy #Bismuth: It is especially the continuation of the quotation which is interesting: "But neither the doctor, nor the lawyer, nor the priest could accomplish their mission if the confidences which are made to them were not assured of an inviolable secret ”.

- Vincent Vantighem (@vvantighem) December 3, 2020

While apologizing to "Madam" the President, he has already warned: "I want the truth.

So I will explain myself about all the conversations [captured during eavesdropping].

I made a choice.

It is to answer all questions.

And there should be a few.

The trial is due to end on Thursday.

Nicolas Sarkozy faces a ten-year prison sentence and a fine of one million euros.

Follow the trial live on our journalist's Twitter account: @vvantighem

Justice

Nicolas Sarkozy denounces the "infamies" which have pursued him for six years

Justice

At the Sarkozy trial, the main principles against shameful secrets

  • Emmanuel Macron

  • The Republicans

  • Trial

  • Court

  • Corruption

  • Thierry herzog

  • Justice

  • Nicolas sarkozy