Sarkozy is still at record lows in the polls. Did you hear the one about the president, the philosopher and the rebels? Sign up to our free daily newsletter, The Economist today, Published since September 1843 to take part in “a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress.”. France, they added, would be sending an ambassador to Benghazi, their stronghold. French ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy was taken into police custody Tuesday and questioned over allegations that late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi financed his 2007 election campaign via suitcases stuffed with cash, a source close to the inquiry told AFP. It did no more than “welcome” the formation of the Libyan council, and urged fellow Europeans to consider the council “to be valid political interlocutors”. Alain Juppé, the new French foreign minister, was, according to sources, totally in the dark. In 2011, as NATO-backed forces were driving Gaddafi out of power, the longtime Libyan leader’s youngest son Saif al-Islam, told the Euronews network: “Sarkozy must first give back the money he took from Libya to finance his electoral campaign.”. Some of France's European friends, who were preparing to meet in Brussels on March 11th for emergency talks on Libya, were taken aback. Sarkozy then put France at the forefront of NATO-led airstrikes that helped rebel fighters topple Gadhafi’s regime in 2011. After parliamentary study on Uyghur 'genocide', Canada pushes for sanctions on Chinese officials After initial hesitations, it has become the most vigorous advocate of a no-fly zone over the country, and is working with Britain on a UN Security Council resolution to this end. François Fillon has been the Prime Minister of Nicolas Sarkozy since the beginning of his presidential mandate. But would the French formally recognise the Libyan opposition? Less than a month after separating from Cécilia, Sarkozy met Italian-born singer, songwriter and former fashion model Carla Bruni at a dinner party, and soon entered a relationship with her. Nicolas Sarkozy ne se serait donc pas appuyé sur une importante somme (cinq millions d'euros) en provenance de Libye afin de financer sa campagne présidentielle en 2007. Odder still, there was no official communiqué from the presidency confirming that France had offered the Libyan council diplomatic recognition. According to the same source, he again proclaimed his innocence during his questioning by police. L'intervention militaire de 2011 en Libye est une opération militaire multinationale sous l'égide de l'Organisation des Nations unies (ONU), qui s'est déroulée entre le 19 mars 2011 et le 31 octobre 2011, dont l'objectif est la mise en œuvre de la résolution 1973 du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies [23]. But its apparent decision last week to recognise the Libyan opposition—the first big western power to do so—surprised not only France's allies but members of Mr Sarkozy's own government. What to make of all this? The French had been caught snoozing over the Arab uprisings, and Mr Sarkozy hoped that his reshuffled diplomatic team would restore credibility in foreign affairs. Sarkozy and Takieddine have faced other legal troubles in France. Strange, then, that the very next morning, on March 10th, two representatives of the Libyan opposition emerged from a meeting with President Sarkozy at the Elysée Palace to announce that "France recognises the Libyan Transitional National Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people". your username. Sarkozy is not the country’s first former president to be prosecuted. The charge for “membership in a criminal conspiracy” was brought on Monday, and adds to charges in 2018 of “passive corruption”, “benefitting from embezzled public funds” and “illegal campaign financing” against Sarkozy, who has denied any wrongdoing. So far, so commendable. The couple have a daughter, Giulia, born on 19 October 2011. In an attempt to make up for complicity and dithering in Tunisia and Egypt, France has stuck its neck out over Libya. AS HILLARY CLINTON prepares to discuss Libya with President Nicolas Sarkozy this afternoon, she could be forgiven for a touch of confusion about what exactly the French are up to. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged over claims he used Libyan cash for his 2007 election campaign, financial crimes prosecutors told the AFP news agency on Friday. The trial of French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy on corruption allegations has been paused over health concerns about a co-defendant. The visit was the first time Gaddafi had visited France in more than 35 years and drew considerable condemnation from within his government and outside it. C'est aussi l'une des raisons pour lesquelles les parlementaires ne se pressent pas pour créer une commission d'enquête qui les mettrait en cause eux-mêmes. 4 Min Read. So was the diplomatic team in the office of the prime minister, François Fillon. The wording of a letter, sent jointly by Mr Sarkozy with Britain's David Cameron to European colleagues on March 10th, was far more measured. In 2007, Sarkozy welcomed Gadhafi to France with high honors. Sarkozy, who retired from politics after a failed comeback attempt for the 2017 presidential vote, has accused the Paris judiciary of hounding him. It is known as the "wiretapping case" in France, because phone calls between Mr Sarkozy and Mr Herzog were tapped in 2013-2014, in which Mr Sarkozy used the … Selon un document consulté par Mediapart, le marchand d’armes Ziad Takieddine, organisateur en 2005 et 2007 des visites de Nicolas Sarkozy et de ses proches en Libye… Fillon used a total of $1m in public funds to pay his wife and children for work they never performed, a court says. Sarkozy dismissed the allegations as rantings of vindictive Gaddafi loyalists who were furious over the French-led military intervention in Libya that helped end Gaddafi’s 41-year rule and ultimately led to his death. Crunch time for France's Sarkozy as graft trial looms Issued on: 21/11/2020 - 04:18 Modified: 21/11/2020 - 04:16 Nicolas Sarkozy risks up to 10 … your password W latach 2004–2007 i od 2014 do 2015 przewodniczący Unii na rzecz Ruchu Ludowego, następnie do 2016 lider powstałej z przekształcenia UMP partii Republikanie. Sarkozy, 63, who was France’s president during 2007-12, has repeatedly and vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The UMP, Sarkozy's party, won a majority at the June 2007 legislative election, although by less than expected. All rights reserved. FRANCE-SARKOZY/LIBYA - RTS1OJR6 Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy enters his car as he leaves his house in Paris Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy enters his car as he leaves his house in Paris, France, March 21, 2018. The unpopular Mr Sarkozy, who faces a presidential election next year, clearly wants to show voters that he can take the lead. Indeed, he appointed Mr Juppé precisely in order to inject some professionalism and stability into French diplomacy, after an unfortunate series of misjudgments by Michèle Alliot-Marie, the previous foreign minister. The former president faces trial later this month in an unrelated corruption case. Nicolas Sarkozy a engagé une guerre contre la Libye et décidé d'abattre son régime avec l'approbation de 80% du Parlement. Sarkozy jugé pour corruption ... Sarkozy / Libye : la justice donne de nouveau raison à Mediapart - Duration: ... FRANCE 24 32,923 views. Mr Lévy, who has no official diplomatic role, announced that France was considering targeted air strikes. On his Facebook page, Sarkozy on Friday again said he was innocent. Sarkozy loses legal challenge over claims he accepted Libyan cash. Odder still, there was no official communiqué from the presidency confirming that France had offered the Libyan council diplomatic recognition. The 65-year-old denies accusations by former members of Muammar Gaddafi’s leadership that he took millions from the slain Libyan ruler, some of it delivered in cash-stuffed suitcases, in his successful presidential run. "Mediapart n'est plus le problème de Nicolas Sarkozy, [maintenant] ce sont les juges d'instructions" Sarkozy, 63, who was France's president from 2007 to 2012, has repeatedly and vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The former president was released on Wednesday night, but placed under judicial supervision. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged over claims he used Libyan cash for his 2007 election campaign, financial crimes prosecutors told the AFP news agency on Friday. Copyright © The Economist Newspaper Limited 2020. The charge for "membership in a criminal conspiracy" was brought on Monday, the prosecutors told AFP. Also on rt.com France’s ex-PM Fillon gets jail sentence over embezzlement scandal. The late Jacques Chirac was given a two-year suspended sentence in 2011 for embezzlement and misuse of public funds during his time as mayor of Paris. Language: English Following Sarkozy's successful election victory, Gaddafi visited France at the president’s invitation. “Sarkozy must first give back the money he took from Libya to finance his electoral campaign,” Seif told the Euronews network in 2011 as NATO-backed forces were driving his father out of power. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Ex-French president denies charges he accepted millions of euros from Gaddafi, to use in his presidential campaign. According to the same source, he again proclaimed his innocence during his questioning by police. Sarkozy now wants to visit Libya as soon as Gaddafi is found. 2:49. Nicolas Sarkozy – francuski polityk, w latach 2007–2012 prezydent Republiki Francuskiej i z urzędu współksiążę Andory. The former president was released on Wednesday night, but placed under judicial supervision. The legal investigation is looking into these allegations, as well as a 500,000 euro foreign cash transfer to Mr Sarkozy's ally Claude Gueant, and the sale of a luxury villa in 2009 in the south of France to a Libyan investment fund for an allegedly inflated price. Hardly the same as formal diplomatic recognition. "France recognises states, not parties", said a senior official on March 9th. Sarkozy then put France at the forefront of NATO-led airstrikes that helped rebel fighters topple Gadhafi’s regime in 2011. Il y a 7 ans déjà, Saïf al-Islam Kadhafi avait accusé Nicolas Sarkozy d'avoir bénéficié du financement de la Libye de son père lors de la campagne présidentielle de 2007. But they were not the only ones. Foreign policy, crucial as it is for a president's image, does not win French elections. The French were looking seriously at the military planning needed to establish a no-fly zone over Libyan airspace, which would take several weeks to make operational, said one official at the time. Bizarrely, their meeting was facilitated by Bernard-Henri Lévy, a left-leaning philosopher and media celebrity, who has been urging Mr Sarkozy to intervene. News France: Sarkozy bribery trial postponed for days. Former French president denies charges his associates accepted millions in … He has also been charged in two other cases, one relating to fake invoices devised to mask overspending on his failed 2012 re-election campaign, and another for alleged influence peddling involving a top judge. Sarkozy and Takieddine have faced other legal troubles in France. France's more assertive stand began to emerge last week. The presidential party only gained 318 seats out of 577. Sarkozy, 63, who was France’s president during 2007-12, has repeatedly and vehemently denied any wrongdoing. French prosecutors have slapped criminal conspiracy charges on former president Nicolas Sarkozy over his alleged used of Libyan cash for his 2007 election campaign. Sarkozy then put France at the forefront of NATO-led airstrikes that helped rebel fighters topple Gadhafi’s regime in 2011. By Reuters Staff. They would "far prefer" this to take place with UN backing, though they recognised that this would be difficult; they were sceptical about going in under a NATO umbrella because of the alliance's image in the Arab world as an American tool. France sentences ex-PM Fillon, his wife to prison in fraud trial, Nicolas Sarkozy to face French court over campaign finance, Sarkozy loses legal challenge over claims he accepted Libyan cash, Al Jazeera journalists hacked using Israeli firm’s spyware, Hong Kong’s top court upholds mask ban at protests, Greece: Activists, journalists decry crackdown on protests, Jupiter, Saturn merging in night sky, closest in centuries. Były minister w kilku rządach, deputowany i poseł do Parlamentu Europejskiego. Mr Juppé, who is well liked by diplomats, had made a decent start, appearing to enjoy a degree of independence from the tightly run Elysée diplomatic team. Former president latest senior French politician swept up in anti-corruption investigations. They married on 2 February 2008 at the Élysée Palace in Paris.. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with conspiracy over claims he used cash from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for … The scandal came to light in 2012, when investigative website Mediapart published a document purporting to show that Gaddafi agreed to give Sarkozy up to 50 million euros ($58m or $67.6m at today’s rates). Nicolas Sarkozy is accused of using cash from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for his 2007 presidential campaign. Welcome! France's Sarkozy denies Libya allegations, will take legal action. In 2007, Sarkozy welcomed Gadhafi to France with high honors. Even before allied forces unleashed a "shock and awe" barrage of cruise missile attacks against Libya on March 19, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was quick to take the credit, saying France … Sarkozy then put France at the forefront of NATO-led airstrikes that helped rebel fighters topple Gadhafi’s regime in 2011. Which countries have banned UK travel over COVID concerns? Log into your account. New COVID strain in the UK: What we know in 500 words, UK cut off over fears of new coronavirus strain, China aircraft carrier sails through Taiwan Strait raising alarm, Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. But the impromptu decision to recognise the Libyan opposition, if that is indeed what it was, looks worryingly like a return to policymaking by impulse and improvisation. Sarkozy and Takieddine have faced other legal troubles in France.