France: Sarkozy Sentenced to Five Years in Libya Funding Case

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been handed a five-year prison term after being convicted of criminal conspiracy in connection with millions of euros allegedly received from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The Paris court cleared him of other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing, but ruled he must still serve jail time even if he appeals. Sarkozy, who insists he is innocent and says the case is politically driven, has already announced plans to challenge the verdict.

Speaking outside the court, the 70-year-old ex-president (2007–2012) denounced the ruling as “extremely serious for the rule of law.” He vowed to fight “until [his] last breath,” adding: “If they want me to sleep in jail, I will do so with my head held high.”

The Case

Prosecutors accused Sarkozy of using Libyan money to bankroll his 2007 presidential campaign, allegedly promising to help Gaddafi shed his pariah status with the West in return. Judge Nathalie Gavarino said Sarkozy allowed aides to approach Libyan officials for campaign funds, though the court concluded there wasn’t sufficient proof he personally benefited from illegal financing.

The court also ordered Sarkozy to pay a €100,000 fine. The sentencing shocked the courtroom, marking the first time a French president faces prison for such charges.

The investigation began in 2013 after Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the dictator’s son, alleged Sarkozy had accepted millions from his father. In 2014, Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine claimed he had written proof of €50m in payments from Tripoli, continuing even after Sarkozy entered office.

Others Involved

Former interior ministers Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux were also on trial. Guéant was convicted of corruption and related charges, while Hortefeux was found guilty of criminal conspiracy. Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, faces separate charges of concealing evidence and fraud, which she denies.

Sarkozy’s Legal Troubles

This is not Sarkozy’s first conviction. In 2021, he was found guilty of attempting to bribe a judge and became the first ex-president in France to receive a custodial sentence later allowed to serve at home with an electronic tag. In February 2024, he was convicted of overspending on his failed 2012 re-election campaign and sentenced to one year, with six months suspended.

Now, with this latest ruling, Sarkozy could soon be sent to prison a dramatic fall for a former French leader who has long maintained his innocence.