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Sarkozy, who remains an important figure in French politics
although he no longer holds any elected post, has always denied
the accusations. "There's not even the smallest inkling of
proof," he said in an interview in 2018.
The conservative former president, in office from 2007 to 2012,
could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted in the case. He
is also fighting various other legal cases.
In this case, he will stand trial over charges of "concealment
of embezzlement of public funds, passive corruption, illegal
campaign financing and criminal conspiracy with a view to
committing a crime punishable by 10 years in jail", the
prosecutor's office said.
Among the 12 others facing trial in the case are Sarkozy's
former right-hand man Claude Gueant, his then head of campaign
financing Eric Woerth and former Interior Minister Brice
Hortefeux.
An initial hearing is set for March 7, 2024, the prosecutor's
office said, with the trial itself scheduled to take place
between Jan.6, 2025 and April 10, 2025.
Sarkozy, 68, lost an appeal in May against a 2021 conviction for
corruption and influence peddling. His legal team promised to
challenge that at France's highest court.
Sarkozy's conservative predecessor, the late Jacques Chirac, was
found guilty of corruption in 2011, four years after he left
office.
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Bertrand BouceyWriting by
Dominique Vidalon and Ingrid MelanderEditing by Frances Kerry)
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