France’s former president Nicolas Sarkozy and 11 co-defendants have gone on trial over the alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the government of then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, did not speak to the press as he arrived at court.
He has denied any wrongdoing.
Sarkozy faces charges of passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds and criminal association, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The trial is scheduled to run until April 10.