Dominique de Villepin, former French prime minister, yesterday lashed out at the “vindictiveness” of Nicolas Sarkozy, president, as he went on trial for an alleged attempt to smear his rival, in a case heavy with intrigue and revenge.
On the first day of the hearing into the so-called Clearstream affair, Mr de Villepin claimed he was the victim of a political trial but insisted he would be “cleared in the name of the French people”.
“I am here because of the determination of one man, I am here because of the vindictiveness of one man, Nicolas Sarkozy, who is also president of the French republic,” Mr de Villepin declared as he arrived at the criminal court in central Paris, flanked by his wife and children.
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