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Former French PM's trial to start | Former French PM's trial to start |
(40 minutes later) | |
The former French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, goes on trial on Monday charged with plotting to discredit President Nicolas Sarkozy. | The former French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, goes on trial on Monday charged with plotting to discredit President Nicolas Sarkozy. |
It is alleged that Mr de Villepin tried to manipulate a judicial investigation to hurt Mr Sarkozy's chances of winning the 2007 presidential election. | It is alleged that Mr de Villepin tried to manipulate a judicial investigation to hurt Mr Sarkozy's chances of winning the 2007 presidential election. |
If found guilty, Mr de Villepin could face up to five years in jail and a 45,000 euro (£41,000) fine. | If found guilty, Mr de Villepin could face up to five years in jail and a 45,000 euro (£41,000) fine. |
The former prime minister denies any wrongdoing. | The former prime minister denies any wrongdoing. |
"The trial of the decade" - as it has already been labelled by some French media - is likely to last about four weeks, although its verdict is not expected until much later. | |
It is being held in the Grande Chambre of the Palais de Justice next to Notre Dame cathedral - the same Paris courtroom where Queen Marie Antoinette was sentenced to the guillotine in 1793 by France's revolutionary tribunal. | |
Witnesses are due to include another former prime minister, Jean Pierre Raffarin, and a smattering of past and present intelligence chiefs. Although he is a plaintiff in the trial Mr Sarkozy, as president, will not have to testify. | |
Intense rivalry | Intense rivalry |
Mr de Villepin stands accused of "complicity in false accusation, complicity in using forgeries, receipt of stolen property and breach of trust" and is expected to testify next week. | |
The case dates back five years, when Nicolas Sarkozy's name appeared on a list of top politicians and businessmen sent to Mr de Villepin. | The case dates back five years, when Nicolas Sarkozy's name appeared on a list of top politicians and businessmen sent to Mr de Villepin. |
It was alleged those named on the list had received bribes from international arms sales. | It was alleged those named on the list had received bribes from international arms sales. |
THE CLEARSTREAM ACCUSED Dominique de Villepin: Former PM, 55, denies accusations he tried to circulate details of Sarkozy's illegal bank accounts, even though he knew they were fakeJean-Louis Gergorin: Former Airbus VP, 63, accused of faking Clearstream bank accounts as part of Airbus power-struggle, says he accepted accounts in good faithImad Lahoud: Computer expert, 42, says he faked Clearstream accounts on Gergorin's behalf, introducing Sarkozy's name on Villepin's instructionsFlorian Bourges: Accountant, 31, accused of stealing Clearstream documents and breach of trustDenis Robert: Journalist and author, 41, who broke the story, accused of dealing in stolen property and breach of trust Murky tale behind French PM's trial | THE CLEARSTREAM ACCUSED Dominique de Villepin: Former PM, 55, denies accusations he tried to circulate details of Sarkozy's illegal bank accounts, even though he knew they were fakeJean-Louis Gergorin: Former Airbus VP, 63, accused of faking Clearstream bank accounts as part of Airbus power-struggle, says he accepted accounts in good faithImad Lahoud: Computer expert, 42, says he faked Clearstream accounts on Gergorin's behalf, introducing Sarkozy's name on Villepin's instructionsFlorian Bourges: Accountant, 31, accused of stealing Clearstream documents and breach of trustDenis Robert: Journalist and author, 41, who broke the story, accused of dealing in stolen property and breach of trust Murky tale behind French PM's trial |
Part of the intention of drawing up the elaborate forgery seems to have been to discredit senior figures in the aerospace group EADS, to influence the outcome of a boardroom leadership struggle, says the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris. | Part of the intention of drawing up the elaborate forgery seems to have been to discredit senior figures in the aerospace group EADS, to influence the outcome of a boardroom leadership struggle, says the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris. |
In 2006 the former vice-president of EADS Jean Louis Gergorin admitted that he gave the list, which also included his boss Philippe Delmas, to judicial authorities - but he also claims he was acting on orders from Mr de Villepin and President Chirac. | In 2006 the former vice-president of EADS Jean Louis Gergorin admitted that he gave the list, which also included his boss Philippe Delmas, to judicial authorities - but he also claims he was acting on orders from Mr de Villepin and President Chirac. |
When a judge concluded the listings were false, the focus of the investigation quickly became who was behind the spurious allegations, says our correspondent. | When a judge concluded the listings were false, the focus of the investigation quickly became who was behind the spurious allegations, says our correspondent. |
Magistrates want to know whether that person was Mr de Villepin, and whether he attempted to conduct a smear campaign against Mr Sarkozy to spoil his chances of winning the presidential election. | Magistrates want to know whether that person was Mr de Villepin, and whether he attempted to conduct a smear campaign against Mr Sarkozy to spoil his chances of winning the presidential election. |
Mr de Villepin was questioned over the so-called "Clearstream affair" in December 2006 and has been under investigation since 2007. | Mr de Villepin was questioned over the so-called "Clearstream affair" in December 2006 and has been under investigation since 2007. |
The name Clearstream comes from the Luxembourg bank where the individuals on the list - including Mr Sarkozy - were supposed to be account holders. | The name Clearstream comes from the Luxembourg bank where the individuals on the list - including Mr Sarkozy - were supposed to be account holders. |
Mr de Villepin and Mr Sarkozy were both ministers under President Jacques Chirac, but were intense rivals. | Mr de Villepin and Mr Sarkozy were both ministers under President Jacques Chirac, but were intense rivals. |
Mr de Villepin was preferred by Mr Chirac, but it was Mr Sarkozy who won party support to succeed the president. | Mr de Villepin was preferred by Mr Chirac, but it was Mr Sarkozy who won party support to succeed the president. |