Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will stand trial Thursday on charges of illegally financing a failed re-election attempt in 2012.

According to AP, 66-year-old Sarkozy is accused of spending almost double the statutory amount of EUR 22.5 million on the presidential race, which he lost to socialist Francois Hollande.

If convicted, Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, faces up to one year in prison and a € 3,750 fine.

The trial will last until June 22.

The trial will begin less than three months after Sarkozy was convicted of corruption and influence trading in another case. He appealed against the verdict.

After several scandals, French law has severely limited campaign spending since 1990.