Nicolas Bazire, 54, was charged by magistrates investigating allegations of corruption in the election campaign of Edouard Balladur in 1995.

BBC: Nicolas Sarkozy's best man Nicolas Bazire charged

One Edouard Balladur, supported by an upcoming politician named Mr Sarkozy enjoyed far stronger poll ratings and parliamentary support until the month before the vote.

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At this point in the 1995 race, the polls still favoured Edouard Balladur, a centre-right candidate yet in the end victory fell to the Gaullist, Jacques Chirac.

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