Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been convicted of criminal conspiracy in a high-profile trial centred on allegations that his 2007 election campaign was secretly funded with cash from the late Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi.
The Paris criminal court ruled on Thursday that Sarkozy had engaged in a plot involving illicit campaign finance, while clearing him of separate corruption charges.
Prosecutors have requested a seven-year prison sentence, with sentencing expected later in the day. Sarkozy has denied the charges and is expected to appeal, which would suspend the sentence until higher courts review the case.
Libya links and campaign finance allegations
Bloomberg reports that the trial focused on claims that Sarkozy’s campaign received millions of euros from Qaddafi’s regime, funnelling money through covert networks to boost his successful 2007 presidential bid.
French prosecutors alleged that the funds were part of a broader agreement between Sarkozy’s associates and Libyan officials during a period when Qaddafi was seeking closer ties with Western governments.
Evidence presented in court suggested that financial transfers, intermediaries, and political contacts were used to conceal the source of the money.
Sarkozy, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, has maintained that his campaign accounts were lawfully managed.
A third criminal conviction for Sarkozy
This conviction adds to a growing list of legal challenges for Sarkozy. It is the third criminal case to bring him before a court since leaving office.
In December 2023, France’s highest appeals court rejected his attempt to overturn a corruption conviction, confirming a one-year prison sentence.
That earlier case centred on allegations that Sarkozy tried to obtain confidential judicial information from a magistrate.
The new ruling deepens his legal troubles, underlining the scale of scrutiny he has faced in the years since his failed 2012 re-election campaign. At 70 years old, Sarkozy now confronts multiple convictions with prison time attached.
Appeal process and political impact
Under French law, an appeal would delay enforcement of any prison term until all challenges are exhausted. Sarkozy’s legal team has confirmed he intends to contest the ruling, as he has consistently denied receiving Libyan funds.
The proceedings have drawn wide attention, not only because Sarkozy is one of France’s most prominent former leaders, but also due to the geopolitical dimension involving Qaddafi’s Libya.
For France, the case has become symbolic of wider concerns over foreign influence in European politics and the transparency of campaign finance systems.
It also raises questions about how past alliances with regimes later overthrown can shape legal and political battles years later.
Sarkozy’s continuing legal battles
Sarkozy’s fall from the presidency in 2012 marked the beginning of a decade of legal scrutiny. Beyond the corruption and conspiracy cases, he has faced investigations into influence-peddling, campaign overspending, and business ties formed after leaving office.
The Paris court’s decision reinforces his status as the only modern French president to face multiple criminal convictions.
While appeals may delay any potential prison sentence, the ruling further diminishes the prospect of a political comeback, cementing his role in history as a leader whose post-presidency has been dominated by trials and convictions.
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