Anticor and Transparency International France are joining Sherpa, which has been involved in this case for over ten years, as civil parties in the landmark trial into allegations of illegal financing of Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign. Given the unprecedented scale of the case, the three French anti-corruption associations will act as a united front in the trial.
The accusations relate to alleged occult financing from a foreign state, Libya, under Muammar Gaddafi. These illicit financial flows demonstrate the mechanisms under which transnational corruption flourishes, at the expense of civilian populations deprived of essential public resources in the interests of private and political entities.
These practices have a considerable impact on the countries of origin, weakening institutions, increasing inequality and maintaining authoritarian regimes. For our three associations, it is essential that the issue of the victims of corruption is not left out of this trial.
The admissibility of anticorruption organisations in France
The decision of Anticor and Transparency International France to join the trial as civil parties comes at a time where the rights of NGOs are increasingly threatened in France, as demonstrated with the recent difficulties Anticor faced to renew its administrative approval to act as a civil party in matters of anticorruption. Attempts to disrupt the actions undertaken by organisations have only demonstrated the importance of their access to judicial action.
As a reminder, Sherpa, became a civil party on June 26th, 2013 as to the illicit financing of Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidential campaign. The admissibility of Sherpa was put into question throughout the pre-trial period along with a number of arguments put forward in the hope of bringing down the proceedings. The French Supreme Court confirmed a few months later the admissibility of Sherpa to stand as a civil party.
A collective action in the public interest
This trial follows numerous international affairs revealing the extent of transnational corruption and its impact on institutions and populations. Our associations underline that the fight against corruption is not just a matter for the courts: it concerns all citizens, civil society organisations and global economies.
We invite all citizens, media organisations and civil society to closely follow this trial. It is only together that we can build a society more transparent and resilient in the face of weakening democracy and the enduring ramifications of corruption.
Major challenges in the fight against corruption
With this trial, our organisations hope to underscore the systemic mechanisms facilitating illicit financial flows and the associated repercussions on the populations of impacted states. We ask the responsibilities brought to light in this type of trial be questioned, including those of economic players, both companies and financial intermediaries.
Judicial transparency must also be at the core of these debates to ensure the facts be examined in an impartial manner, and that any sentencing in the trial reflect the magnitude of the alleged crimes.
Finally, we wish to raise awareness concerning the need to strengthen the control mechanisms for political and economic financings to protect our democracies.
Press release from :
Sherpa, Anticor and Transparency International
For more information: presse@asso-sherpa.org
