top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

Sarkozy dropped from L’Oreal case

Former president will not appear in trial over abuse of mental fragility of France’s richest woman

FORMER President Nicolas Sarkozy will not be involved in a trial over secret party funds involving France’s richest woman.

He has been left off a list of witnesses who will be called to take part in the trial over the ‘abuse of mental fragility’ of the L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.

The former treasurer of the UMP party Eric Woerth, who was also France’s finance minister when the scandal broke, will be the focus of the trial.

Allegations have been made by Mrs Bettencourt’s accountant that thousands of euros in cash were passed to the UMP party to fund Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign.

The revelation makes it more likely that Sarkozy will run for the French presidency in 2017. While no official announcement has been made, Sarkozy has been quoted by friends and colleagues as wanting to run.

Sarkozy lost the presidency to François Hollande in 2012 by 48.36% to 51.64%, but has since climbed in popularity among the French, while Hollande has become France’s most unpopular post-war president.

He is still not free from legal problems however. There are potential cases over campaign funding from Libya, the compensation payout to businessman Bernard Tapie and bribes from Pakistan, all of which are denied, but which still threaten to entangle him.

Related articles:

L'Oréal reporters' computers stolen
New inquiry over Woerth tax role
Website kicks up L'Oréal stink
Family to care for L’Oréal heiress
Heiress loses €17bn battle
Sarkozy appears in court over scandal
Judge makes Sarkozy witness

Photo: Aleph/Wikimedia Commons

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Visa and residency cards for France*
Featured Help Guide
- Visas and residency cards (cartes de séjour) for France help guide - Understand when visas and residency cards are required to move to France or come for an extended stay - Applies to Britons (post-Brexit) and to all other non-EU/non-EEA/Swiss nationalities - Useful to anyone considering a move to France, whether for work or otherwise, or wanting to spend more than three months at their French second home
Get news, views and information from France