French ex-PM Dominique de Villepin faces appeal trial

Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin was due to face an appeal trial in May 2011 over charges that he plotted to discredit President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The BBC's Hugh Schofield reports from Paris that the outcome of the case could have a major impact on the 2012 presidential election in France.

A French appeals court on the 12 September 2011 upheld the acquittal of former prime minister Dominique de Villepin on charges that he conspired to sabotage Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 presidential bid in a scandal dubbed the Clearstream affair.

• Primary Source

Deutsche Welle, 2.5.11: Former French prime minister returns to court in Sarkozy slander affair http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15044467,00.html

France24, 2.5.11: Villepin returns to court over Sarkozy smear charges http://www.france24.com/en/20110502-france-former-prime-minister-de-villepin-court-retrial-sarkozy-clearstream

ESO: Background information: Ruling sets de Villepin on comeback http://www.europeansources.info/record/ruling-sets-de-villepin-on-comeback/

France24, 14.9.11: Paris court upholds Villepin's Clearstream acquittal http://www.france24.com/en/20110914-france-appeal-court-upholds-former-prime-minister-villepin-acquittal-clearstream-affair

BBC News, 14.9.11: French ex-PM de Villepin's Clearstream acquittal upheld http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14912454

Deutsche Welle, 14.9.11: Sarkozy rival Villepin cleared in one scandal, another emerges http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15387196,00.html

The Local.fr, 14.9.11: Court acquits Sarkozy rival over smear scandal http://www.thelocal.fr/1155/20110914/

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