In a dramatic turn of events, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in jail for criminal conspiracy linked to attempts to secure campaign funds from Libya. The ruling, delivered on Thursday, makes Sarkozy the first former French head of state to face prison time.
Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, reacted with visible anger as he left the Paris courtroom, describing the judgment as “scandalous.” He vowed to appeal, but the sentence is enforceable immediately, meaning he will soon head to prison. “If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high,” Sarkozy told reporters, insisting on his innocence.
The case revolved around allegations that Sarkozy’s aides sought campaign financing from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi ahead of the 2007 election. While the court found no direct evidence that Libyan funds reached Sarkozy’s campaign, it ruled that he was guilty of criminal conspiracy between 2005 and 2007, before he gained presidential immunity.
His lawyer, Jean-Michel Darrois, expressed shock at the ruling, insisting that Sarkozy’s innocence would eventually be recognized on appeal.
Reactions across the French political spectrum were divided. Figures on the right condemned what they saw as a biased decision, while those on the left hailed the ruling as proof of judicial independence. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, herself convicted of embezzling EU funds earlier this year, warned of a “grave danger” in enforcing rulings before appeals are heard.
Sarkozy’s legal troubles have mounted since leaving office. He has already faced convictions for corruption, influence peddling, and illegal campaign financing, while also being stripped of the prestigious Legion of Honour. Despite this, Sarkozy remains a prominent political figure, recently engaging with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and even extending political legitimacy to Le Pen’s National Rally.
The ruling underscores a turning point in French politics, where even the highest office offers no shield from justice. Sarkozy’s downfall serves as both a political cautionary tale and a defining moment for the French judiciary.
