New twist in the Libyan appeal trial, where Nicolas Sarkozy is being retried on suspicion of Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign. Claude Guéant, former Secretary General of the Élysée Palace, has submitted a second affidavit to the Paris Court of Appeal, according to several parties involved in the case. This document was submitted while the former minister, unable to attend the hearings for health reasons, continues to influence the proceedings through written submissions.
On Sunday, this document was shared with the various parties, according to the same sources. It follows up on an initial statement read in court on April 14, which had made public the rift between Nicolas Sarkozy and his former right-hand man. On the stand, the former head of state questioned Claude Guéant's integrity, triggering a sharp reaction from the latter, who asserted that he had "only ever done his best," "followed his instructions," and ensured the implementation of his policies.
A confirmed breakup, a contested narrative
A confirmed breakup, a contested narrative
In this new statement, Claude Guéant maintains his position: no pardon or amnesty was possible or even considered for Abdallah Senoussi, a prominent figure in the Gaddafi regime and convicted in France. He does, however, acknowledge having "left things open" with the Libyan authorities, so as not to abruptly sever a nascent diplomatic relationship. This nuance, almost an admission of strategy, sheds light on the dynamics of the exchanges with Tripoli, without, however, validating the theory of a judicial bargain.
The most volatile aspect of the case remains this recently recounted story about an official dinner in Tripoli in July 2007. Claude Guéant claims that Nicolas Sarkozy, newly elected, summoned him so that Muammar Gaddafi could reiterate a "concern" about Senussi, before saying to him: "Claude, see this." Nicolas Sarkozy categorically denies this account, which he considers fabricated, and is scheduled to be questioned again on Wednesday about these statements, which have created an atmosphere of settling scores as much as a legal dispute in the courtroom.
Beyond the rhetoric, the case remains one of the most serious in the history of the Fifth Republic, given its complex mix of suspicions of illicit financing, diplomatic relations, and the credibility of the protagonists. In the first instance, Nicolas Sarkozy and Claude Guéant were sentenced to five and six years in prison, respectively, along with other defendants, for an illegal financing scheme that all deny. With this second statement, the battle shifts again: less on grand pronouncements and more on details, those that sometimes ultimately sway a conviction.
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