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| Nicolas Sarkozy 'held for questioning' by police | Nicolas Sarkozy 'held for questioning' by police |
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| Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is being held for questioning over alleged influence-peddling, a legal source has claimed. | Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is being held for questioning over alleged influence-peddling, a legal source has claimed. |
| Mr Sarkozy arrived early on Tuesday to be quizzed by investigators at their offices in Nanterre, west of Paris, after his lawyer and two senior attorney-generals were held for questioning on Monday. | Mr Sarkozy arrived early on Tuesday to be quizzed by investigators at their offices in Nanterre, west of Paris, after his lawyer and two senior attorney-generals were held for questioning on Monday. |
| "Mr Sarkozy has been summoned to Nanterre and is being held for questioning," the source told the Reuters news agency. | "Mr Sarkozy has been summoned to Nanterre and is being held for questioning," the source told the Reuters news agency. |
| Asked about the matter, French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said Mr Sarkozy was "subject to justice just like everyone else". | |
"Justice authorities are investigating and have to go all the way," he told i| "Justice authorities are investigating and have to go all the way," he told i | |
| Local media say it is the first time a former head of state has been held for questioning in modern French history, although his predecessor, Jacques Chirac was handed a suspended sentence for embezzlement and breach of trust while he was mayor of Paris in 2011. | Local media say it is the first time a former head of state has been held for questioning in modern French history, although his predecessor, Jacques Chirac was handed a suspended sentence for embezzlement and breach of trust while he was mayor of Paris in 2011. |
| It comes as Mr Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, had been working towards challenging the presidency in 2017. | It comes as Mr Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, had been working towards challenging the presidency in 2017. |
| His lawyer was questioned on suspicion of seeking inside information about a case against the former leader, the BBC reports. | His lawyer was questioned on suspicion of seeking inside information about a case against the former leader, the BBC reports. |
| Investigators are reportedly trying to determine if Mr Sarkozy promised a high-ranking judge a coveted role in Monaco in exchange for information. | Investigators are reportedly trying to determine if Mr Sarkozy promised a high-ranking judge a coveted role in Monaco in exchange for information. |
| The conservative politician denies wrongdoing in a string of investigations which could derail his hopes of a come-back after his 2012 presidential election defeat by Francois Hollande. | The conservative politician denies wrongdoing in a string of investigations which could derail his hopes of a come-back after his 2012 presidential election defeat by Francois Hollande. |