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BBC Learning EnglishWords in the NewsSarkozy questioned over
donations23 November 2012
Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2012Page 1 of
2
bbclearningenglish.com
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been questioned over
claims his 2007
election campaign received illegal donations from France's
richest woman. It is the first
time that Sarkozy has been questioned since losing presidential
immunity. He denies
any wrongdoing.Christian Fraser reports.
He was the mayor of the wealthiest suburb in Paris. It gave him
access to the country's
richest woman. And, over the years, Mr Sarkozy had forged a
close friendship with
Liliane Bettencourt. He was, said staff, a regular visitor to
the family home in Neuilly.
But the allegation is that in the final few months of the 2007
election, Mr Sarkozy took
advantage ofthe ageing L'Oreal heiress, persuading her to part
with huge amounts
of money to help bankroll his bid for the presidency. An
accountant who worked for Ms
Bettencourt claims tens of thousands of euros were handed over
to his campaign
manager Eric Woerth; and, on a separate occasion, Mr Sarkozy
came in person, she
said, to "receive his envelope" stuffed with cash.
The former President has repeatedly denied the allegations, but,
on the orders of the
judge, his office and home were raided in July. Today, one poll
suggested the majority
of French people would prefer Mr Sarkozy to return and lead his
fractured party.
Certainly, he harbours those ambitions, but his chances of a
return could yet be
poisoned by the inquiry he's facing.
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Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
Vocabulary and definitions
suburb an area on the edge of a large town where peoplelive
forged a close friendship form or make a close friendship
took advantage of used for personal benefit, especially
something orsomeone in a weaker position
heiress a woman who will receive a money, property or atitle
when the person who owns it dies
bankroll support financially; provide the money for
handed over given
stuffed completely filled
raided entered (a property) by force
fractured broken
harbours those ambitions thinks about or holds those ambitions,
usually for along time
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary
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Read more about a related story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20438554
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/11/121123_sarkozy_allegations_story.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/11/121123_sarkozy_allegations_story.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20438554http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20438554http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20438554http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/11/121123_sarkozy_allegations_story.shtml
