FRANCE: Former French prime minister Dominique Villepin denies involvement in smear scandal
Record ID:
784658
FRANCE: Former French prime minister Dominique Villepin denies involvement in smear scandal
- Title: FRANCE: Former French prime minister Dominique Villepin denies involvement in smear scandal
- Date: 27th July 2007
- Summary: (BN10) PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 27 2007) (REUTERS) FORMER FRENCH PRIME MINISTER DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN LEAVING COURT AND WALKING TOWARDS REPORTERS
- Embargoed: 11th August 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAASYOIEVOMPDNPTRPT1E1X2Q3I
- Story Text: Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin protests his innocence as he leaves court in Paris where judges are hearing allegations he deliberately smeared political rival Nicolas Sarkozy.
Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin repeated his denial of any involvement in a smear campaign against Nicolas Sarkozy after appearing before judges in Paris' financial court on Friday (July 27).
De Villepin was questioned for around an hour and a half over allegations of involvement in the Clearstream affair, in which Sarkozy's name appeared on a faked list of accounts purportedly held at Luxembourg-based securities clearing house Clearstream.
He denied any knowledge of the case when questioned last year, but after months of investigation, including a search of the former PM's house, he was recalled for further questioning.
Leaving the financial court on Friday morning, de Villepin told the crowds of waiting journalists that any actions he took had been entirely in the interests of his ministerial office.
"I want to reiterate this morning, that I did not at any time ask for an enquiry about political personalities; that I did not at any time participate in any sort of political manoeuvring. I worked to confront international threats, I worked to confront the threats concerning our economic interests, it is strictly within this frame that I worked, it was my duty as a minister," he said.
"I will not hide the fact that these allegations are painful, for me and for my family, but I will fight in order that the truth makes itself evident, and naturally I will respond to all the questions that will be asked," Villepin added.
The case, which nearly tore the government apart last year, has underlined the deep hostility that surrounded Sarkozy's rise to take over the centre right in the twilight of Jacques Chirac's 12-year term as president. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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