Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been found guilty of criminal conspiracy over the alleged illegal financing of his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya’s late leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
The verdict, delivered Thursday by the Paris criminal court, marks a dramatic moment in modern French politics. Sarkozy, 70, was acquitted of other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing, but the conspiracy conviction alone carries serious implications.
Prosecutors had requested a seven-year prison sentence, accusing Sarkozy of secretly negotiating with Gaddafi as far back as 2005, when he was serving as France’s interior minister. They argued that the Libyan regime, then shunned on the world stage, provided millions in funding in exchange for Sarkozy’s support and legitimacy once he rose to the presidency.
The former leader, who governed from 2007 to 2012 before stepping away from politics in 2017, has denied the accusations, insisting the case is politically motivated. He is expected to appeal the ruling, a move that would automatically suspend any sentence while the appeal process is underway.
The court is due to hand down Sarkozy’s sentence later today. If confirmed, it would add to a growing list of legal troubles for the ex-president. Sarkozy has already faced convictions in two separate cases: one for influence peddling and corruption in 2021, and another in 2023 linked to campaign overspending. Both verdicts are under appeal.
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Thursday’s ruling deepens the shadow over Sarkozy’s legacy, once marked by his sweeping electoral win in 2007 and his high-profile role in European politics. Instead, he now finds himself entangled in one of France’s most significant political scandals in decades, involving allegations of foreign interference and illicit money flows at the highest level of power.
For years, Sarkozy’s alleged ties to Gaddafi have been the subject of speculation, fueled by testimonies from Libyan officials and the discovery of suspicious financial documents. The former president has consistently rejected them as fabrications.
The outcome of his sentencing, and the appeal that is almost certain to follow, will determine whether Sarkozy faces prison time or prolongs the legal saga that has defined his post-Elysée years.