PARIS, July 10 (UPI) -- Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin denies allegations of a smear campaign against his rival President Nicolas Sarkozy.
De Villepin is to be questioned next month by judges in an inquiry that could lead to a formal charge, the BBC reported Tuesday.
Sarkozy served as interior minister and de Villepin as prime minister under former President Jacques Chirac. Both hoped to succeed Chirac, with Sarkozy emerging the victor in the May elections.
De Villepin was questioned last year about claims that he had been involved in a campaign to spread false charges that Sarkozy and other politicians had secret bank accounts used to collect bribes. The investigation was reopened based on new information found in the files of a former intelligence official.
Last week, investigators searched de Villepin's home and office.
