Former French president calls ruling “scandalous injustice” as Paris court delivers surprise decision
PARIS (MT) — Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy lashed out at what he described as a “scandalous injustice” driven by hatred “without limits” after a Paris court sentenced him Thursday to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy linked to an alleged scheme to fund his 2007 presidential campaign with Libyan money.
The court ruled that Sarkozy, now 70, was guilty of criminal association in a plot that stretched from 2005 to 2007, where intermediaries allegedly sought millions from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in exchange for diplomatic favors. However, he was acquitted of three other significant charges, including passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, and concealing embezzled public funds.
In a significant twist, judges said Sarkozy must serve his sentence even if he appeals. The date of incarceration will be determined later, sparing him the humiliation of being escorted directly from the courtroom to jail. Two of Sarkozy’s longtime allies, former ministers Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux, were also convicted of criminal association but cleared of other charges.
Court Findings and Legal Reasoning
Chief Judge Caroline Viguier, reading out the lengthy verdict, said Sarkozy had allowed close associates to approach Libyan officials “to obtain or attempt to obtain financial support in Libya for the purpose of securing campaign financing.” Yet the court conceded it could not prove Libyan money ultimately funded the 2007 campaign. Under French law, however, a corrupt scheme constitutes a crime even if money was never exchanged. The verdict suggested that judges believed the conspiracy existed but were not convinced that Sarkozy himself had orchestrated the funding or that Libyan funds had been used in his campaign.
A Former Leader Under Scrutiny
Sarkozy, flanked by his wife, singer and model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, sat in the front row of the courtroom, with his three adult sons also in attendance. Elected in 2007 and defeated in 2012, Sarkozy has faced repeated legal troubles, though he remains a prominent figure in France’s conservative political circles and public life.
The accusations date back to 2011, when Libyan officials, including Gadhafi himself — claimed millions had been secretly funneled into Sarkozy’s campaign. In 2012, investigative outlet Mediapart published a Libyan intelligence memo referencing a €50 million deal, but Thursday’s verdict declared the document “most likely a forgery.”
Investigators also examined trips to Libya by Sarkozy’s associates when he served as interior minister. Businessman Ziad Takieddine once alleged he delivered suitcases of cash from Tripoli to Sarkozy’s team, but later retracted his claims. This reversal sparked a separate probe into possible witness tampering. Both Sarkozy and his wife face preliminary charges in that case, which has not yet gone to trial. Takieddine, a co-defendant, died this week in Beirut at 75.
Broader Context
The trial shed light on France’s dealings with Gadhafi’s regime in the mid-2000s, a period when Libya sought to rehabilitate its international standing. Sarkozy has consistently dismissed the accusations as politically motivated, claiming they were fabricated by Gadhafi’s inner circle in retaliation for his role in backing NATO-led intervention that ousted the dictator in 2011. “What credibility can be given to statements marked by vengeance?” Sarkozy asked during the proceedings.
Previous Convictions
This is not Sarkozy’s first brush with the law. He lost his Legion of Honor medal in June after being convicted of separate corruption charges involving attempts to bribe a magistrate. In another case, he was found guilty of overspending during his 2012 reelection campaign and received a one-year prison sentence, half of which was suspended. That conviction is under appeal. Despite mounting legal setbacks, Sarkozy remains a towering, if polarizing, figure in French politics.
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press (AP).
