Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has become the first ex-leader of a European Union country to be imprisoned, following his conviction for criminal conspiracy related to alleged illegal campaign financing from Libya. On Tuesday, Sarkozy entered La Santé prison in Paris to begin serving a five-year sentence handed down in September. He was found guilty of attempting to secure funding from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi for his successful 2007 presidential campaign. Despite the verdict, Sarkozy maintains his innocence. In a message posted on social media as he was being taken into custody, he wrote: “It is not a former president of the republic being jailed this morning, but an innocent man… I have no doubt. The truth will prevail.” Supporters gathered outside his home as he departed with his wife, Carla Bruni, by his side. Many held portraits, sang the national anthem, and chanted slogans demanding his release. Sarkozy’s lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, confirmed that an appeal had been filed, along with a request for his immediate release. While the Paris appeals court has up to two months to respond, the legal team expects a decision within three to four weeks. In the meantime, Sarkozy is being held in solitary confinement in a 9-square-metre cell to ensure his safety. He is allowed limited outdoor time, three weekly visits, and brought with him a biography of Jesus and Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, a novel about a wrongfully imprisoned man. Although the court did not find that Sarkozy personally received or used Gaddafi’s money, it concluded that he engaged in a criminal conspiracy to obtain the funds. He was acquitted of embezzlement, passive corruption, and illicit campaign financing. This is not Sarkozy’s first legal issue. He previously received a sentence for trying to bribe a judge—served under house arrest with an electronic tag—and is awaiting a ruling in another case concerning illegal financing during his failed 2012 re-election bid. The 70-year-old remains a divisive figure in France. While a recent poll showed that 60% of French adults believe the sentence is fair, he still enjoys support within the conservative political class and maintains a private rapport with current President Emmanuel Macron, who recently welcomed him to the Élysée Palace. Sarkozy is the first former French leader to be jailed since World War II-era head of state Philippe Pétain. Jailed Over Libya Campaign Funding Scandal
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has become the first ex-leader of a European Union country to be imprisoned, following his conviction for criminal conspiracy related to alleged illegal campaign financing from Libya. On Tuesday, Sarkozy entered La Santé prison in Paris to begin serving a five-year sentence handed down in September. He was found guilty of attempting to secure funding from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi for his successful […]
