Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy awaits a critical ruling from France’s highest court on Wednesday regarding his conviction for illegal campaign financing related to his 2012 reelection bid. The Court of Cassation will determine whether to uphold or overturn Sarkozy’s sentence of one year in prison, half of which is suspended, for exceeding the legal campaign spending limit.
This decision comes shortly after Sarkozy’s release from prison, where he spent 20 days following a conviction for illicit financing linked to his successful 2007 presidential campaign. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing in both cases.
Sarkozy is accused of spending nearly twice the maximum legal amount of 22.5 million euros (approximately $25.5 million) during his 2012 campaign, which he lost to François Hollande. Should the Court of Cassation uphold the conviction, it would become definitive under French law, allowing no further appeals. The court is not revisiting the entire case but is instead confirming that legal procedures were correctly followed. If it finds procedural errors, there is a possibility of a new trial.
In a parallel legal matter, Sarkozy’s appeal regarding the Libya financing case is set to take place from March 16 to June 3, 2024. In September 2023, a Paris court convicted him of criminal association for allegedly obtaining Libyan funds to finance his presidential campaign, resulting in a five-year prison sentence. While he was found guilty in this case, he was acquitted of several other charges, including passive corruption and concealing embezzlement of public funds.
The court determined that two of Sarkozy’s close associates had secret meetings with Abdullah al-Senoussi, a key figure in the regime of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, to discuss financing in exchange for diplomatic favors. Al-Senoussi has been implicated in serious criminal activities, including the Lockerbie bombing and the attack on a French airliner.
Sarkozy plans to release a book titled “Diary of a Prisoner” on December 10, 2023, where he shares his experiences during incarceration, describing it as “a nightmare.” He expressed shock at having to endure prison at the age of 70, stating, “This ordeal was imposed on me, and I lived through it. It’s hard, very hard.”
In addition to these ongoing legal battles, French investigative judges filed preliminary charges against Sarkozy in 2023 for allegedly attempting to influence a witness in the Libya financing case. This accusation stems from statements made by Ziad Takieddine, a businessman who claimed to have delivered cash from Libya to Sarkozy during his presidency, though he later retracted his claims.
Sarkozy’s wife, former supermodel Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, also faces preliminary charges for her alleged role in pressuring Takieddine. She is currently under judicial supervision, which includes restrictions on contacting anyone involved in the case, except for her husband. The couple’s legal futures now depend on decisions made by investigative magistrates regarding whether to proceed to trial.
The former president has a history of legal issues, including a definitive conviction for corruption and influence peddling during his presidency. In 2022, the Court of Cassation upheld a conviction for attempting to bribe a magistrate in exchange for information about ongoing legal proceedings. Sarkozy was sentenced to a year in prison but was allowed to serve it at home with an electronic bracelet. He was released conditionally in May 2023 due to his age.
Following his conviction in the bribery case, Sarkozy was stripped of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest distinction. As he navigates these challenges, the implications for his legacy and political future remain uncertain.
