Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday appeared in court in Paris on allegations that his 2007 campaign received illegal funding from the Libyan government of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.
The case, which is scheduled to last three months, is not the first for Mr. Sarkozy, 69, is a conservative politician who led France from 2007 to 2012, but represents one of the most serious legal threats to a French politician since his trial. he left office.
Just a month ago, Mr. Sarkozy overturned his final appeal in a separate case of corruption and influence peddling, making him the first French president to be sentenced to prison, although he will serve his time in jail with an electronic bracelet.
But in all legal cases against Mr. Sarkozy, Libya is one of the most escalating, chaotic and explosive cases. It includes allegations that his campaign illegally received large sums of money from Colonel Qaddafi, a former Libyan activist who was killed by opposition forces in 2011.
Mr. Sarkozy, who has denied wrongdoing, could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $400,000.
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