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Nicolas Sarkozy on the way to his trial
Photo: CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy testified for the first time in his trial of alleged illegal campaign funding.
Before the Paris court, the 66-year-old energetically denied the prosecution's allegation that his 2012 election campaign had been conducted using prohibited means.
He hadn't made a more elaborate election campaign that year than five years before.
Corresponding descriptions are "wrong" and a "fable".
During his testimony, Sarkozy raised his voice at certain points and gestured vigorously.
The presiding judge Caroline Viguier slowed him down several times, whereupon he apologized.
So far, the ex-president had not participated in the process, which had been going on for around three and a half weeks, and instead had his lawyer Thierry Herzog represent him.
Sarkozy was France's President from 2007 to 2012.
According to the prosecution, he spent more than 40 million euros in his ultimately unsuccessful presidential election campaign against the socialist François Hollande to secure his re-election.
That was almost twice as much as allowed.
His party UMP - which is now called Les Républicains (The Republicans) - is said to have tried to hide this through a system of falsified invoices.
The event company Bygmalion alone is said to have issued the party with bills totaling a good 18 million euros.
That is why the case in France is known as the "Bygmalion Affair".
The conservative politician faces up to a year in prison and a fine.
In addition to Sarkozy, 13 other people responsible have been charged.
These are employees of his then election campaign staff and of Bygmalion.
They face up to five years in prison.
On March 1, Sarkozy was sentenced to three years imprisonment, two of which were suspended, in a corruption trial.
Since he appealed, the judgment is not yet final.
nek / afp