Former French President Sarkozy Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

Nicolas Sarkozy, who served as President of France from 2007 to 2012, has been handed a five-year prison sentence for criminal conspiracy related to attempts by his associates to secure campaign financing from Libya. This ruling makes him the first former French president expected to serve time in prison.
The verdict was unexpectedly severe. Although Sarkozy has announced plans to appeal, the court has ruled that the sentence is to be enforced immediately, meaning he will begin serving time regardless of the appeal’s outcome.
As he left the courtroom, Sarkozy was visibly emotional and strongly criticized the decision:

“What happened today … is of extreme gravity in regard to the rule of law, and for the trust one can have in the justice system,” he told reporters.“If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high,” he said, adding that he was innocent. “I will not apologise for something I didn’t do.”

The case centers on accusations that, while serving as interior minister in 2005, Sarkozy entered into an arrangement with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to receive campaign funding in return for diplomatic support. The court, however, found no direct evidence that Sarkozy personally struck a deal or that Libyan money ultimately made it to his campaign. Nevertheless, it concluded that he was guilty of criminal conspiracy for allowing his close allies to approach Libyan contacts in pursuit of funding.
He was acquitted of other charges, including corruption and illegal campaign financing.
The presiding judge confirmed the sentence was to be carried out promptly. Sarkozy has only a short period to get his personal affairs in order before he must report to prison, likely within a month.
Sarkozy has maintained that the charges are politically driven and has denied any wrongdoing throughout the proceedings. He was convicted specifically for conspiracy between 2005 and 2007, prior to assuming the presidency — a role that afforded him legal immunity at the time.
This ruling comes just months after another high-profile French politician, Marine Le Pen, was convicted of misusing EU funds and barred from holding public office for five years. Reacting to Sarkozy’s sentence, she warned:

“A grave danger” that judges were opting for immediately enforceable rulings and not waiting for appeals.

Sarkozy’s legal troubles have persisted in recent years. France’s highest court previously upheld a conviction against him for corruption and influence peddling, which resulted in him being required to wear an electronic monitoring device — a first for any former French president. That sentence has since been completed.
He was also convicted in a separate case related to overspending during his failed 2012 re-election campaign. A final decision on that case from France’s highest court is expected next month.
Despite losing the prestigious Legion of Honour earlier this year and facing ongoing legal battles, Sarkozy continues to hold sway in political circles. He recently met with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and expressed public support for Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party, stating it now falls within the “republican arc.”
The group Sherpa, which campaigns for economic justice and was involved in the Libya case, welcomed the outcome. Its lawyer, Vincent Brengarth, commented:

“This confirms we have an independent justice system, that can be brave.”