Paris: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in jail after a Paris court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy in connection with funds allegedly provided by Muammar Gaddafi’s regime for his 2007 presidential campaign. The ruling is seen as harsher than what is typically handed down by the French judiciary in similar cases.
The court acquitted Sarkozy, 70, of charges of illegal campaign financing and passive corruption. Even so, the conspiracy conviction requires him to serve prison time despite his plans to appeal. Sarkozy denied all wrongdoing, claiming the case was politically motivated.
Prosecutors alleged that Sarkozy made a secret deal with Gaddafi in 2005, while serving as interior minister, to secure campaign money in exchange for political support for Libya’s reintegration on the world stage. The evidence included statements from former Libyan officials, financial records, and notes by Libya’s late oil minister Shukri Ghanem.
Two of Sarkozy’s closest allies, Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux, were also convicted of criminal association. His campaign treasurer Eric Woerth was acquitted. The court stressed that Sarkozy allowed his associates to seek Libyan support in his name.
The case began in 2011 when Gaddafi and Libyan media claimed millions were secretly sent to Sarkozy’s campaign. Gaddafi was killed later that year during NATO’s intervention in Libya, an operation led in part by France under Sarkozy’s leadership.
Sarkozy has faced multiple legal battles since leaving office, including convictions for corruption and illegal campaign financing in separate cases. Despite these setbacks, he continues to hold influence in France’s right-wing politics and maintains ties with current President Emmanuel Macron.
