Paris, France — Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced on Thursday to five years in prison after a Paris court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from Libya. The verdict, which Sarkozy denounced as “a scandal,” makes him the first ex-president in modern French history to face actual jail time.
The court ruled that Sarkozy, 70, will serve three years in prison and two years suspended. Although he has announced his intention to appeal, the judges said his sentence will begin at a date to be determined, sparing him the immediate humiliation of being escorted from the courtroom in handcuffs.
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The case centered on allegations that Sarkozy and his aides conspired with Libyan officials between 2005 and 2007, when he was interior minister, to secure campaign financing in exchange for diplomatic favors. While the court cleared him of three other charges—including passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, and concealing embezzled funds—it concluded that he knowingly allowed close associates to negotiate financial support with Libya.
“There was not sufficient evidence to prove Sarkozy personally received the funds,” Judge Nathalie Gavarino said, but stressed that his role in enabling the conspiracy was enough to warrant conviction. Along with the prison sentence, Sarkozy was ordered to pay a fine of €100,000 ($117,000, £87,000).
Gasps filled the packed courtroom when the sentence was read. Outside, Sarkozy addressed reporters defiantly:
“What happened today is of extreme gravity for the rule of law, and for the trust one can have in the justice system. If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high.”
The ruling deals a heavy blow to Sarkozy, who remains an influential figure in French conservative politics despite multiple ongoing legal battles. He could be incarcerated in Paris in the coming days, pending the outcome of his appeal.
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