De Villepin charged in Sarkozy 'smear' inquiry

Former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin has been charged for his suspected role in a smear campaign against Nicolas Sarkozy.

Villepin was charged with “complicity in slanderous denunciations” after being questioned by investigative judges, said Luc Brossollet, a lawyer for the former prime minister.

The case stems from an attempt three years ago to discredit Sarkozy, who was a government minister at the time and a political rival of Villepin within their conservative UMP party.

Sarkozy and other prominent figures were falsely accused of having secret bank accounts to hold bribes from a 1991 sale of frigates to Taiwan.

Under French law, preliminary charges mean there is strong evidence to suggest involvement in a crime. The filing gives the magistrate time to pursue a deeper probe that could lead a trial.

Judges also slapped Villepin with measures preventing him from meeting with former French President Jacques Chirac and four major players in the alleged smear campaign, but Villepin was appealing the measures, judicial officials said.

Villepin, who left the premiership in May when Sarkozy took over France’s highest office, swears he committed no wrongdoing.