Paris – Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy linked to the alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the Libyan government under Muammar Gaddafi. In addition to the prison term, Sarkozy has been ordered to pay a fine of approximately 2 million Namibian dollars.
The Paris court ruled that Sarkozy’s associates sought financial support from Libya to fund the campaign, although the court did not find conclusive evidence that the funds were directly used in his election efforts. Despite this, the court confirmed that Sarkozy will begin serving his sentence even if he chooses to appeal the ruling.
Sarkozy, who held office from 2007 to 2012, was acquitted of several other charges, including passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, and concealment of embezzled public funds. Nevertheless, the conviction on criminal conspiracy represents a significant blow to the former president’s legacy.
The case originated from long-standing allegations that Sarkozy received tens of millions of euros from Gaddafi to support his campaign. These claims were initially supported by testimony from businessman Ziad Takieddine, who claimed to have delivered cash from Libya. Takieddine later retracted parts of his testimony, and he passed away shortly before the verdict was delivered.
Sarkozy has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintains that the trial was politically motivated. Following the sentencing, he stated his intention to appeal, describing the decision as a “scandalous injustice.”
Two of Sarkozy’s former close allies, Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux, were also convicted in connection with the case, while another campaign official, Éric Woerth, was acquitted. The trial has drawn attention to ongoing concerns over political corruption and the influence of foreign funding in French elections.
