The first ever trial of an ex-president of the Federal Republic of Germany has begun in the northern city of Hanover where Christian Wulff is accused of accepting financial favours in office.<br /><br />Once tipped as a successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, he quit the largely ceremonial president’s role in disgrace in February last year.<br /><br />He is charged over a visit to the Munich Oktoberfest beer festival in 2008, when prosecutors claim his hotel bill was paid by film producer David Groenewold, who is also on trial. <br /><br />More serious charges were dropped.<br /><br />Wulff, 54, denies any wrongdoing over the claims that relate to his time as state premier of Lower Saxony. He rejected a bid by prosecutors to settle out of court.
