Nicolas Sarkozy: Justice is distorted by politics.
The former French president is now under formal investigation for allegedly using his influence to obtain details of an investigation into his 2007 presidential campaign; he denies any wrongdoing; "The situation is serious enough to show the French people the extent to which we have reached the point of political exploitation of parts of the legal system today."
By Gregory Blachier and Gérard Bon
PARIS (Reuters) Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday that the legal system is being used for political purposes, after he became the subject of a formal investigation on suspicion of using his influence to obtain details of an investigation into his 2007 presidential campaign.
The measure, which frequently, but not always, ends in trial, is a major setback to Sarkozy's hopes of returning to the presidency after his defeat to Socialist rival François Hollande in the 2012 election.
The conservative politician denies any wrongdoing in the series of investigations, in which his direct or indirect involvement has led to questions about his viability as a presidential candidate in 2017.
"I say to those who are listening or watching that I have never betrayed them and have never committed any act against the principles of the Republic and the rule of law," Sarkozy stated, according to excerpts from his first interview since his 2012 defeat, which will be broadcast on Europe 1 radio later this Wednesday.
"The situation is serious enough to show the French people the extent to which we have reached the point of political exploitation of parts of the legal system today."
Magistrates are investigating whether Sarkozy used his influence to obtain leaked details from an inquiry into alleged irregularities in his victorious 2007 campaign. He is suspected of influence peddling, bribing officials, and profiting from the violation of professional secrets, the prosecutor's office reported.
The first former French president to be taken into police custody, Sarkozy, 59, was detained for 15 hours on Tuesday and then transferred to appear before magistrates who will conduct the investigation. He was subsequently released without bail.
Sarkozy "has already been through trials of this nature, he always knew how to fight," said Paul-Albert Iweins, lawyer for Sarkozy's own lawyer, Thierry Herzog, who is also being investigated for influence peddling, as is a judge involved in the case.
Iweins stated that the case is weak, since it relies on legally questionable wiretaps of conversations between Sarkozy and Herzog, as well as between Herzog and the president of the French court.
Sarkozy's allies have doubts about the impartiality of one of the judges. The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, told the state radio station France Info that Hollande's government has incited "a climate of hatred".
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has rejected accusations of a conspiracy.
Investigating magistrates have a unique and powerful role in French law, being able to gather evidence and determine whether it is consistent enough for a trial. After the inquiry, the magistrate can dismiss the case for lack of evidence or "charge" the defendant, sending the case to trial.
This is the second time the former president, who lost his immunity a month after leaving office in June 2012, has been subject to judicial investigation. The first time was in 2013, but the judges dismissed the case.