Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy, marking a historic moment as the first time in modern French history that a former head of state has received such a sentence.
The Paris court delivered the verdict, finding the 70-year-old guilty of orchestrating a scheme to illegally finance his successful 2007 presidential campaign using funds allegedly originating from the regime of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Details of the Verdict
While the court acquitted Sarkozy of related charges concerning passive corruption and illegal campaign financing, it stressed the “exceptional gravity” of the criminal conspiracy. In addition to the five-year prison term, Sarkozy was also fined €100,000. The court ruled that the sentence must be served regardless of any pending appeals.
Sarkozy has vehemently denied the allegations, calling the ruling a “scandal” and a “humiliation” for France. He has immediately announced his intention to appeal the verdict, which will suspend the implementation of the sentence pending the appellate process. His wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, publicly expressed her support for her husband and criticized the media coverage of the case.
Ongoing Legal Challenges
This conviction adds to a list of legal challenges faced by the influential French conservative figure. Sarkozy was previously convicted in 2024 for campaign overspending related to his failed 2012 re-election bid, and in 2021 for bribery in a separate case. Despite these legal troubles, he remains an active and influential personality within French right-wing politics.
Source: BBC
