France's Sarkozy to stand trial over campaign financing

By Hajer M’tiri

PARIS (AA) - Former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy is to stand trial over spending allegations linked to his 2012 bid to remain president.

Media reports on Tuesday claimed Sarkozy would face claims that his party, the Union for a Popular Movement -- now Les Republicains -- falsified accounts to hide €18 million ($20 million) of campaign spending.

Last September, prosecutors sought the referral of Sarkozy and 13 others indicted in connection with the so-called Bygmalion affair for trial.

Sarkozy has repeatedly denied he was aware of the spending.

He lost the 2012 race to Francois Hollande and failed in his bid to run again in this year's upcoming presidential election.

Sarkozy had already been placed under formal investigation and faced preliminary charges of alleged illegal campaign financing.

This was connected to an invoice system his party and a public relations firm named Bygmalion allegedly used to conceal unauthorized overspending during campaign events in the run-up to the 2012 contest.

France’s Constitutional Council ruled in 2013 that Sarkozy had exceeded spending limits.

If convicted, the former president and his aides could face a maximum prison sentence of a year and a €3,750 ($4,185) fine.