In the trial opening Wednesday, which he is not expected to attend, the divisive rightwinger is accused of overspending on his failed 2012 re-election bid to the tune of 20 million euros .
The former president says he was unaware of the fraud — unlike some of the defendants, he is not charged with fraud, but with the lesser offense of illegal campaign financing. He fought for years to avoid a trial.Bygmalion executives and Jerome Lavrilleux, the deputy manager of Sarkozy’s 2012 campaign who will also go on trial, have acknowledged the system of fake invoices.
His prison sentence stunned the political establishment and prompted his many admirers on the right, including Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, to send him messages of support.
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