Ex-French PM cries after report he wanted to speed up Sarkozy legal case

Ex-French PM cries after report he wanted to speed up Sarkozy legal case. November. 12, 2014 03:51. .

Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon approached top aide of President Francois Hollande and asked his speed up the legal case involving former President Nicolas Sarkozy to undermine his political comeback, including one linked to fines over the funding of the former president`s 2012 campaign. Fillon had been nominated as prime minister by then President Sarkozy.

French daily Le Monde disclosed Sunday a lunch conversation made between Fillon and Jean-Pierre Jouyet, top aide of President Hollande and his chief of staff at the Elysee Palace. Filllon declared he will run for 2017 presidency candidate for the main opposition Union for a Popular Movement Party. President Hollande is in the left-wing Socialist Party. At the luncheon meeting, Fillon mentioned former President Sarkozy`s 2012 presidential campaign funding, saying, " "If you don`t hit him quickly, you`ll let him come back, so act."

Fillon and Jouyet strongly reacted saying the report is a lie adding it is a malicious fabrication. However, as Le Monde presented the recording of interview he did in September, Jouyet admitted that Fillon commented on Sarkozy`s presidential campaign funding.

Sarkozy who recently announced his candidacy for head of opposition party is in a favorable situation. At the party meeting Monday, he said it was revealed that suspicion on him was a dirty political conspiracy created by the Elysee Palace and rivals.