MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Cahuzac was appointed by French President Francois Hollande in 2012 to introduce tax hikes for wealthy citizens in order to counter corruption and restore the country’s economy.
27 January 2016, 23:08 GMT
However, the former minister was forced to admit in 2013 that he had possessed some $700,000 deposited in a Swiss bank for over 20 years to avoid tax payments.
Cahuzac faces up to seven years in prison if found guilty of tax avoidance and fraud, as well as a $2.2-million fine.
The trial is scheduled to be held until February 18.
