Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was charged Wednesday with influence peddling and corruption after being questioned by judiciary police for 15 hours.
Sarkozy, 59, is the first former French president who has had to declare as a detainee in a criminal investigation, in which if convicted he faces up to 10 years in jail.
After the accusation, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said "no one is above the law", adding that Sarkozy should be treated as innocent until proven otherwise.
The premier also said the justice system is looking at the case independently, without any interference from his government.
Also facing the same charges are Sarkozy's lawyer Thierry Herzog, as well as high-ranking judge Gilbert Azibert.
Sarkozy has been accused of illegal dealings linked to the financing of his 2007 and 2012 election campaigns.
The move came amid growing rumours that he was planning to resume his political career next fall and reclaim the leadership of his UMP party.
Members of Sarkozy's entourage told the French newspaper Le Monde Wednesday that his current difficulties have strengthened his resolve to return to the political arena.
The former president might make his intentions clear when he appears Wednesday night in interviews on French television channel TF1 and radio Europe 1.
