Former French President Sarkozy Sentenced to 5 Years

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison by a Paris court for his involvement in alleged illegal campaign financing from the government of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The court found Sarkozy guilty of criminal association in a scheme to finance his campaign using funds from Libya for potential diplomatic favors. However, he was acquitted of other charges like passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, and concealing the embezzlement of public funds.

Two of Sarkozy’s close associates during his presidency, former ministers Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux, were also found guilty of criminal association but cleared of some charges. The court indicated that while there was evidence of a plot to seek Libyan funding for Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign, there was uncertainty about Sarkozy’s direct involvement in the funding or the actual use of Libyan money in his campaign.

The presiding judge mentioned that Sarkozy permitted his associates to make contact with Libyan authorities to secure financial support for campaign financing purposes. However, the court could not definitively establish the use of Libyan funds in Sarkozy’s campaign. The court clarified that under French law, a corrupt scheme remains illegal even if the actual transfer of money cannot be proven.

Sarkozy, accompanied by his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, was present in court along with reporters and the public. The trial involved 11 co-defendants, and despite denying any wrongdoing, Sarkozy faces various legal controversies that have tarnished his presidential legacy.

The allegations stem from claims made in 2011 by a Libyan news agency and Gadhafi himself, suggesting that the Libyan state had funneled millions of euros into Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign. Subsequent investigations revealed inconsistencies, including the likely forgery of a document referencing a large funding agreement.

Co-defendant in separate probe died this week

Further scrutiny focused on trips to Libya by Sarkozy’s close aides during his tenure as interior minister. Allegations of cash deliveries to the French Interior Ministry surfaced, leading to a separate inquiry into potential witness tampering. Sarkozy and his wife were preliminarily charged in connection with attempts to influence a key witness, though this case is pending trial.

One of the co-defendants, Ziad Takieddine, passed away in Beirut this week, having previously alleged a corruption pact between Sarkozy and Gadhafi’s regime. Gadhafi’s downfall in 2011 marked a significant shift in Libya’s political landscape and raised questions about past diplomatic engagements.

The trial highlighted France’s clandestine negotiations with Libya during the 2000s to improve diplomatic relations. Sarkozy has consistently refuted the accusations as politically motivated, emphasizing the lack of concrete evidence and alleging a vendetta orchestrated by his detractors.

Sarkozy’s prior legal issues, including a conviction for corruption and influence peddling, have further complicated his public standing. Despite these challenges, Sarkozy remains a prominent figure in French right-wing politics and entertainment circles, partly due to his marriage to Bruni-Sarkozy.

In a separate case last year, Sarkozy was found guilty of illegal campaign financing in his 2012 re-election bid. He received a prison sentence, part of which was suspended, and has appealed the verdict.