Post date: Mar 22, 2013 11:0:57 AM
France wakes up to the news that Sarkozy is being investigated for a party-funding affair, which Parisians say could prevent him from coming back on the political scene.
PARIS, FRANCE (MARCH 22, 2013) (REUTERS) - France woke up on Friday (March 22) to news that its former PresidentNicolas Sarkozy has been put under investigation, with newspapers calling it a 'shock'.
Sarkozy was placed under formal investigation late on Thursday for "abuse of weakness" in a 2007 party funding case involving elderly L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, the public prosecutor said.The risk for Sarkozy -- unseated May last year but considered a potential conservative candidate in the 2017 presidential race -- is that he may end up plagued by suspicion for months or years, even if his lawyer says there is no case against him.
Under French law, a formal investigation is the final step before a suspect is accused of a crime. Sarkozy, who only this month hinted he could make a political comeback, has repeatedly denied taking campaign funds from Bettencourt.
One Parisian told Reuters Television that a formal investigation on Sarkozy was in the air anyway.
"Nothing special, it was in the air anyway. He is one of 17 persons (under investigation) along with one of his ministers. Does he have any relation with Mrs Bettencourt? Certainly yes. But let the legal system investigate. Apart from that, it's his business because today he is a citizen like anyone else now," passer-byDominique Gustin said.
If found guilty, the 57-year-old Sarkozy faces a maximum three-year jail sentence and a hefty fine.
A passer-by who refused to give his name said the investigation could pose problems for any political return Sarkozy may have been planning.
"It sounds a bit like a vendetta against Mr Sarkozy, who was talking about coming back in politics. So it might appear a problem for Mr Sarkozy to come back on the scene. So he should defend himself in the coming months and we will see whether he is cleared in this case," the passer-by said.
Sarkozy gave the strongest hint yet that he might make a comeback bid earlier this month, telling a magazine a sense of duty to fix the economy might oblige him to run in 2017.
Sarkozy's remarks in the right-leaning weekly Valeurs Actuelles increased speculation he could return to politics - talk that has not abated since the conservative was ousted by Hollande.
Earlier this week, Sarkozy travelled to Tripoli where he was thanked for spearheading foreign intervention in the Libyan uprising that eventually ended with Gaddafi's capture and death in October 2011.