[JURIST] A French public prosecutor on Friday announced plans to appeal the acquittal of former prime minister Dominique de Villepin, which cleared him of all charges for his role in an alleged plot to defame several businessmen, including current President Nicolas Sarkozy. The appeal comes shortly after Sarkozy announced that he would not appeal the verdict. According to French Media Advisor Franck Louvrier, prosecutors were not given instructions from the president, and Sarkozy will not be a civil party to the appeal.
In October, de Villepin denied breaking the law and claimed that Sarkozy ordered the prosecution for personal and political reasons. De Villepin and his alleged co-conspirators went on trial last September. In November 2008, de Villepin was ordered to stand trial for his connection with the long-running political scandal known as the Clearstream Affair. De Villepin’s political image was tainted by the allegations as well as by his advance of an unpopular youth labor law during his time as prime minister.