French judiciary takes aim at Carla Bruni
Against the former French President Sarkozy, numerous proceedings are running. Now, the justice is also investigating his wife Carla Bruni. In the affair of alleged campaign funds from Libya for the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the French justice has initiated an investigation against his wife Carla Bruni. The singer and former First Lady of France was also placed under judicial supervision, according to French media, in reference to the justice. As the Financial Public Prosecutor had previously announced, the investigations against the 56-year-old concern a possible witness tampering.
The Libya affair revolves around indications that illegal money from the regime of the then Libyan ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi flowed for Sarkozy's presidential campaign in 2007. The French-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine had said in 2016 that he had brought several suitcases filled with millions of euros from the Libyan regime to the Paris Interior Ministry at the end of 2006 or the beginning of 2007, which was then led by Sarkozy. He was initially considered the main witness. In an interview, he later stated that Sarkozy had not received any Libyan money for the campaign. Again later, Takieddine stated that his statement had been falsified.
Bruni's Role: Making Contacts?
Given this background, the French justice initiated another investigation into the Libya affair in 2021, which aims to clarify whether the main witness was bribed to change his statement. The justice suspects that Takieddine was offered money from Sarkozy's entourage to bring the parties into contact. Bruni's role, according to the justice's assumption, could have been to facilitate contact between the parties.
The now initiated investigation could ultimately lead to a trial if the investigators see sufficient evidence against Bruni. Otherwise, they could also discontinue the proceedings. The conservative politician Sarkozy, who was French president from 2007 to 2012, has been fighting against the justice for various allegations for years.
The investigation into allegations of campaign funds from Libya for Nicolas Sarkozy also involves his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, as she was placed under judicial supervision due to her potential role in facilitating contacts. The justice is examining whether a main witness was bribed to change his statement concerning the Libya affair, implicating Sarkozy's entourage. Despite numerous proceedings against him, Sarkozy continues to fight against the French justice for various accusations.
