Olayiwola Matthew
A Paris court has sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison, including two years suspended, after finding him guilty of criminal conspiracy in a long-running investigation into alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday, marks the first time a former French head of state has been convicted of illegal foreign campaign financing. Judges concluded that Sarkozy’s team secretly accepted millions of euros from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to support his successful bid for the presidency nearly two decades ago.
Sarkozy, who has consistently denied the accusations, was not taken into custody immediately. His lawyers announced that he will appeal the verdict, a move that could delay the enforcement of the sentence.
Prosecutors alleged that up to €50 million in illicit funds were funneled from Tripoli into Sarkozy’s campaign coffers, far exceeding France’s legal campaign finance limits. The court described the hidden payments as part of a broader conspiracy involving Sarkozy’s close allies and former ministers. Several co-defendants were also convicted and handed varying sentences.
This latest conviction adds to Sarkozy’s legal troubles. In 2021, he was found guilty of corruption and influence peddling in a separate case and sentenced to three years, two of which were suspended. He is still appealing that decision.
Sarkozy, who served as president of France from 2007 to 2012, remains a prominent figure in French conservative politics despite his repeated legal challenges. His conviction has further deepened the debate in France about political corruption and accountability at the highest levels of government.