Blow for Sarkozy comeback hopes as court rules tapping his phone was legal

French magistrates ruled on Thursday that authorities had acted legally in tapping ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy’s phone as part of an investigation into allegations of influence peddling, in a potential blow to his hopes to run for president in 2017. Sarkozy allies had been confident the court would declare the taps inadmissible and clear the way for him to seek the conservatives’ ticket for the 2017 ballot without a judicial cloud hanging over him. But magistrates approved the measure as part of investigation of the funding of Sarkozy’s successful 2007 election campaign.

Nicolas Sarkozy has for a long time had a pack on his heels trying to make him stumble, but let’s stress that he has never been convicted.

Nadine Morano

Sarkozy compared the tapping last year to the mass surveillance of the Stasi secret police of former communist East Germany. He has denied any wrongdoing. Some party supporters said the magistrates’ decision might be politically motivated and Sarkozy himself is said to be "unfazed and determined" by the decision. Sarkozy, who lost the 2012 presidential election to Socialist Francois Hollande, had seen his return to politics at the end of last year challenged by party rivals before strengthening his hold on the party with local election victories in March.