The former French president mounted a robust defence of his conduct and promised to make his honour "triumph"
ADVERTISEMENTFormer French President Nicolas Sarkozy went on prime time television TF1 on Thursday evening to reject accusations of illicit Libyan funding for his 2007 election campaign and said they were making his life "hell".
He said, "Saif Kadhafi said, on March 16th 2011: "Sarkozy must give back the money we gave him". And he added: "We have pictures, recordings, wire transfers, bank accounts". That was on March 16th 2011, we now are on March 2018. There is no document, no picture, no account, no material proof. There is only hate. "
Nicolas Sarkozy referred to an exclusive Euronews interview with Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam in 2011 where he said: "Sarkozy must give back the money he took from Libya in order to fund his electoral campaign. We did fund his electoral campaign. We've got all the details, we're ready to reveal it all.
"We ask this clown to give the money back to the Libyan people.
"Sarkozy, we did help you to become president but you disappointed us. Now give the money back.
"We will reveal everything, very soon. We've got all the documents, money transfers, all the details".
Nicolas Sarkozy has been put under investigation for other "illegal financing of electoral campaign". Sarkozy who led France from 2007 to 2012 has vowed to restore his honour