French court says Sarkozy overspent state funds in 2012 campaign

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy waves before the start of the French Ligue 1 soccer match where Paris Saint-Germain faces Nice at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris, April 21, 2013. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

PARIS (Reuters) - Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy lost his fight on Thursday against a decision by election auditors that found his conservative UMP party went over budget during his 2012 election campaign.

The Constitutional Council's ruling against him plunges the opposition UMP into financial crisis as it was ordered to return the 11 million euros ($14 million) of state money it had been advanced, as a penalty for running over budget.