On Monday, at the Paris Criminal Court, a historic trial began, implicating former President Nicolas Sarkozy and three ex-ministers of his government: Brice Hortefeux, Claude Guéant and Éric Woerth. They are being prosecuted, along with eight other defendants, for suspicion of illegal financing of the 2007 presidential campaign by Muammar Gaddafi's Libya.
As soon as the hearing opened, well-known faces from the political scene of the 2000s took the stand. Nicolas Sarkozy, aged 69, seems experienced in the exercise: this is his fifth trial in five years. In a navy blue suit, he presents himself with gravity. ” Occupation ? », asks president Nathalie Gavarino. “Lawyer,” he replies. When asked about his nationality, a moment of confusion sets in: “My wife? “, he asks before correcting himself with a little embarrassed laugh, “Ah yes, French. »
Clashes between Nicolas Sarkozy and the prosecutor
Twelve defendants are on trial, including Thierry Gaubert, close to the former head of state, and Alexandre Djouhri, a long-time intermediary. Four notable absentees complete this cast: two Saudi businessmen as well as Béchir Saleh, former close friend of Gaddafi, and the controversial Lebanese intermediary Ziad Takieddine, both targeted by arrest warrants. Since his flight to Lebanon in 2020, Ziad Takieddine has maintained his innocence and affirmed on RTL: “No one summoned me for this hearing. »
The afternoon was marked by tense exchanges on procedural points. The lawyers of Nicolas Sarkozy and Brice Hortefeux contested the jurisdiction of the criminal court, pleading for the case to be judged by the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR), the only one authorized to judge ministers in office.
A fairly irritated Nicolas Sarkozy
Prosecutor Quentin Dandoy sharply recalled that this question had already been decided twice during the investigation. “You are going to make people believe that there is a sort of association between magistrates who are very angry with Nicolas Sarkozy, and who have gathered, perhaps at the palace refreshment bar, to say “Nicolas Sarkozy and the CJR, it's “niet”? » This barb, launched under the discreet sneers of Nicolas Sarkozy, increased the tension.
The former president, visibly irritated, muttered comments under his breath. The tone rose when the president calmed the exchanges: “Speech is free, but irony has no place. » Supported by the president, Nicolas Sarkozy replied, furious: “Yes, it shocks me. » For his part, the prosecutor defended his remarks: “I am just responding to Mr. Sarkozy who says that what I say is frightening, when I am only reporting facts. » The persistent tension led the president to suspend the hearing at 7:15 p.m., without the court ruling on jurisdiction. The trial will resume on Wednesday with the continuation of the procedural debates.
