Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday denied he had broken the law after being charged with corruption-related offences and denounced what he said was political interference in the case.
In extracts of an interview released by LCI television and Europe 1 radio, Sarkozy said: "I have never committed any act contrary to the values of the republic or the rule of law."
"I have never betrayed the confidence" of the French, he added, in the extracts released about an hour before the full interview was to air.
It was to be Sarkozy's first major broadcast interview since he lost the 2012 presidential election to Francois Hollande.
Sarkozy also decried what he called "political interference in a part of the judiciary" in the case -- a suggestion that opponents like the ruling Socialists were behind the case against him.
"In our country, which is the country of human rights and the rule of law, there are things that are being organised," Sarkozy said. "The French need to know what they are and, in conscience and freedom, judge what to make of it."
He said he was "deeply shocked" by the charges, adding that "everything is being done to give me an image that is not truthful."
"The time has come to explain, to have my say," Sarkozy said.
Sarkozy, 59, was hit Wednesday with charges including corruption and influence peddling in a dramatic legal move that threatens to torpedo his hopes of a political comeback.
The decision to charge the centre-right leader came after he was quizzed for 15 hours by judges investigating an alleged attempt to interfere in judicial proceedings in another case.
Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday denied he had broken the law after being charged with corruption-related offences and denounced what he said was political interference in the case.
In extracts of an interview released by LCI television and Europe 1 radio, Sarkozy said: “I have never committed any act contrary to the values of the republic or the rule of law.”
“I have never betrayed the confidence” of the French, he added, in the extracts released about an hour before the full interview was to air.
It was to be Sarkozy’s first major broadcast interview since he lost the 2012 presidential election to Francois Hollande.
Sarkozy also decried what he called “political interference in a part of the judiciary” in the case — a suggestion that opponents like the ruling Socialists were behind the case against him.
“In our country, which is the country of human rights and the rule of law, there are things that are being organised,” Sarkozy said. “The French need to know what they are and, in conscience and freedom, judge what to make of it.”
He said he was “deeply shocked” by the charges, adding that “everything is being done to give me an image that is not truthful.”
“The time has come to explain, to have my say,” Sarkozy said.
Sarkozy, 59, was hit Wednesday with charges including corruption and influence peddling in a dramatic legal move that threatens to torpedo his hopes of a political comeback.
The decision to charge the centre-right leader came after he was quizzed for 15 hours by judges investigating an alleged attempt to interfere in judicial proceedings in another case.
