Sarkozy dropped from l’oreal case

FORMER PRESIDENT WILL NOT APPEAR IN TRIAL OVER ABUSE OF MENTAL FRAGILITY OF FRANCE’S RICHEST WOMAN FORMER President Nicolas Sarkozy will not be involved in a trial over secret party funds

involving France’s richest woman. He has been left off a list of witnesses who will be called to take part in the trial over the ‘abuse of mental fragility’ of the L’Oréal heiress Liliane

Bettencourt. The former treasurer of the UMP party Eric Woerth, who was also France’s finance minister when the scandal broke, will be the focus of the trial. Allegations have been made by

Mrs Bettencourt’s accountant that thousands of euros in cash were passed to the UMP party to fund Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign. The revelation makes it more likely that Sarkozy will run for the

French presidency in 2017. While no official announcement has been made, Sarkozy has been quoted by friends and colleagues as wanting to run. Sarkozy lost the presidency to François Hollande

in 2012 by 48.36% to 51.64%, but has since climbed in popularity among the French, while Hollande has become France’s most unpopular post-war president. He is still not free from legal

problems however. There are potential cases over campaign funding from Libya, the compensation payout to businessman Bernard Tapie and bribes from Pakistan, all of which are denied, but

which still threaten to entangle him. Related articles: L'Oréal reporters' computers stolen New inquiry over Woerth tax role Website kicks up L'Oréal stink Family to care for

L’Oréal heiress Heiress loses €17bn battle Sarkozy appears in court over scandal Judge makes Sarkozy witness Photo: Aleph/Wikimedia Commons