The French president Nicolas Sarkozy, a potential candidate for the
elections in his country in 2017, was questioned Tuesday by magistrates
investigating a scandal over excessive spending on his unsuccessful
re-election campaign in 2012.
A judicial source said Sarkozy, leader of the center-right opposition, had been notified in advance that the summons could lead to a formal examination, a possible prelude to a trial.
The former president was taken to the headquarters of the Public Prosecutor for questioning by the so-called case Bygmalion.
Sarkozy has repeatedly denied having knowledge of double-counting and 18 million euros (20.1 million dollars) in fake invoices issued by the company organizing events Bygmalion, who made his campaign costs outweigh the duplicasen legal limit.
Four senior members of the 2012 campaign have been under formal investigation for alleged political financing, including campaign manager and treasurer.
In a book published last month, Sarkozy wrote: "It will certainly be hard to believe, but I swear it's the truth: I knew nothing about this company until the scandal broke."
A judicial source said Sarkozy, leader of the center-right opposition, had been notified in advance that the summons could lead to a formal examination, a possible prelude to a trial.
The former president was taken to the headquarters of the Public Prosecutor for questioning by the so-called case Bygmalion.
Sarkozy has repeatedly denied having knowledge of double-counting and 18 million euros (20.1 million dollars) in fake invoices issued by the company organizing events Bygmalion, who made his campaign costs outweigh the duplicasen legal limit.
Four senior members of the 2012 campaign have been under formal investigation for alleged political financing, including campaign manager and treasurer.
In a book published last month, Sarkozy wrote: "It will certainly be hard to believe, but I swear it's the truth: I knew nothing about this company until the scandal broke."