François Hollande "does not accept repeated attacks on justice" (Archives) -

Olivier Juszczak / 20 Minutes

If he "measures what this decision represents" for Nicolas Sarkozy, sentenced to three years in prison, two of which were suspended in the so-called "Paul Bismuth tapping" affair, François Hollande said this Saturday in an interview with the

Parisian

not accept "repeated attacks on justice".

“I measure what this condemnation represents for Nicolas Sarkozy both on the human level and on the political level.

It is also a question of honor, given the functions he has exercised, ”said the former head of state.

Attacks on the National Financial Prosecutor's Office

"On the other hand what I do not accept are the repeated attacks against justice and its independence, with magistrates who are singled out by name", adds François Hollande, deploring that the Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti no did not defend "immediately the judicial institution".

While the right has focused its attacks on the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF), which it accuses of having played a political role in the trial, the former socialist leader recalls that the judgment was rendered "by an independent court after an investigation carried out by the PNF, then an investigation entrusted to other magistrates ”.

“Finally, the PNF magistrates were not chosen by me, nor by my successor.

They were on a proposal from the Keeper of the Seals after the assent of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, ”insists François Hollande, who created the PNF in 2013 after the Cahuzac affair.

"To claim that the PNF acts for partisan purposes is to undermine the impartiality of 18 magistrates who work independently for the general interest", continues the former head of state.

"The time when politicians were untouchable is over"

"To those who like Ms. Le Pen or Mr. Mélenchon complain that there would be a government of judges, I say that the time when policies were untouchable is over," he adds.

Regarding the "personal support" provided by the Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin to Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande considers that "in these circumstances", that "does not offend".

Politics

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  • Nicolas sarkozy

  • Francois Hollande

  • Justice