Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced on September 25 to five years in prison. This after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in connection with alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The Paris court also imposed a €100,000 fine and banned him from holding public office. Sarkozy, who denies wrongdoing, announced plans to appeal, calling the ruling “a scandal.”
Although acquitted of charges including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing, the court determined that Sarkozy allowed close aides to pursue Libyan financial support for his campaign. The judges did not conclude with certainty that Libyan money funded the campaign. Yet, he emphasized that under French law, conspiracy remains criminal even without direct payment.
Associates and Broader Context
Two of Sarkozy’s close allies, Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux, were also convicted, while campaign treasurer Eric Woerth was acquitted. Co-defendant Ziad Takieddine, who had accused Sarkozy of receiving cash-filled suitcases from Tripoli before later retracting the claim, died shortly before the verdict. Investigations into potential witness tampering involving Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy remain ongoing.
The accusations stem began in 2011, including reports by Gaddafi and documents published by Mediapart. Sarkozy argued that the allegations were forged, politically motivated, and tied to his role in the 2011 NATO-led intervention against Gaddafi
Previous Convictions and Political Fallout
This case adds to Sarkozy’s legal challenges. He was previously convicted in two separate cases.One for corruption and influence peddling in 2014, which resulted in electronic monitoring, and another for illegal campaign financing in his failed 2012 reelection bid. In June, he was stripped of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest award, after one of these convictions.
The ruling underscores the gravity of the allegations connecting Sarkozy’s political career to Libyan funds. While uncertainty remains about the direct flow of money, the court emphasized conspiracy as sufficient grounds for conviction. Sarkozy’s appeal and future legal battles will determine how these outcomes reshape his legacy and influence in French politics.
Reference
Afp. (2025, September 25). Sarkozy given five-year sentence in Libya case, will be incarcerated even if he appeals. Le Monde.fr. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2025/09/25/sarkozy-sentenced-to-five-years-in-prison-in-libya-case-will-be-incarcerated-even-if-he-appeals_6745724_6.html