Sarkozy is accused by prosecutors of having struck a deal with Libya's late dictator Muammar Gaddafi to receive millions of euros in illegal funding. View on euronews

A defiant Nicolas Sarkozy told a Paris court on Thursday that allegations of illegal Libyan financing of his successful 2007 presidential bid were a "conspiracy" and that not a single cent of Libyan cash would ever be found in his campaign.

The former French president has faced several legal cases since leaving office, but accusations that he received money for his 2007 election from Libyan authorities have been particularly damaging.