Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in jail after a court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy related to illegal dealings with Libya. This is an unprecedented and harsher-than-expected punishment for a leading French political figure.
Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, was convicted for his close aides' efforts to procure funds from Muammar Gaddafi's Libya for his 2007 presidential campaign. Although the court acquitted him of corruption and illegal campaign financing, the judge ruled that he was guilty of criminal conspiracy for allowing aides to seek financing in Libya.
Immediate Jail Time Despite Appeal
The sentence is immediately enforceable. The judge stated that the 70-year-old former president must report to jail within about a month.
Upon exiting the courtroom, Sarkozy, who has always denied the charges, expressed his strong disapproval of the ruling. He stated, "What happened today... is of extreme gravity in regard to the rule of law," and added that he would "sleep in jail... with my head held high," maintaining that he is innocent and the ruling is scandalous.
The court noted that while there was no proof that money directly reached his campaign, the timing and the "very opaque" paths of the money transfers were "compatible" with the conspiracy. The court also clarified that its ruling covers the period between 2005 and 2007, before he became president and was covered by presidential immunity.
Sarkozy's Ongoing Legal Challenges
Sarkozy has faced multiple legal battles since leaving office:
2024 (Last Year): France's highest court upheld his separate conviction for corruption and influence peddling, making him the first former French head of state to wear an electronic monitoring tag for a year.
2024 (Last Year): An appeals court confirmed a conviction for illegal campaign financing related to his failed 2012 re-election bid. The final ruling on this case is expected next month.
Despite these legal setbacks, which included having his prestigious Legion of Honour stripped, Sarkozy remains an active and influential figure in French politics.