Libyan funding trial: Sarkozy on back foot over two key aspects of the case
Nicolas Sarkozy and three former ministers are standing trial in Paris over claims that the former president's successful 2007 election campaign was part-funded by the Libyan regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. And that the North African country – whose leader was one of the most notorious dictators on the planet – received favours in exchange. There are 13 defendants in all. In Wednesday's court hearing Nicolas Sarkozy appeared to be in difficulty when questioned on two issues in the case. One was the nuclear power plant that France wanted to sell to the Libyan dictator in 2007. The other was the exfiltration in 2011 – first from Libya, later from France - of Gaddafi's former chief of staff Bashir Saleh when the latter was the object of an Interpol arrest warrant. Fabrice Arfi reports on Wednesday's hearing.
TheThe dynamic at the trial over Libyan financing is now fixed. On one side, there is a defendant – in fact, the defendant who draws all the attention: Nicolas Sarkozy. He dominates the space with restless energy. He speaks loudly, a whirlwind of words. He gestures, turns left and right, repeatedly asks, “If I may?” and then proceeds without always waiting for an answer.
