I
reported in November that former French president Nicholas Sarkozy would be questioned by a judge in Bordeaux over bribery
allegations.
The charge is that
Sarkozy - affectionately known as “Mr Bling” –
accepted more than half a million pounds from Liliane Bettencourt to help fund his 2007 presidential
campaign and promised Bettencourt tax
breaks in return.
Sarkozy was placed under formal investigation by a judge
on March 21 with preliminary charges of “abuse of frailty” but the case is yet
to go to trial. Sarkozy has vowed to
clear his name and tweeted late last month that the charges were unfair and
unfounded. This investigation will no
doubt put his political come back on hold.
He is widely expected to run again to become president in the 2017 presidential
elections. The UMP party is split in
terms of leadership and Sarkozy is seen as someone who can unify the party
again.
The investigation will try to determine whether Sarkozy
made multiple visits to see Bettencourt during his 2007 campaign. Sarkozy denies this however former members of
Bettencourt’s staff say otherwise.
Francois Hollande is governing during tough times, facing
rising unemployment and recession. Hollande stated recently:
"I have to succeed because the country cannot
wait. The crisis continues, my duty is to get France out of the crisis"
The polls show his popularity has declined and the Front National
will use every opportunity to boost their ratings. In a recent by-election in Oise, Paris the
Socialist candidate lost in the first round and in the second round Front
National gained 49% compared with UMP’s 51%.
