France’s former president, Nicolas Sarkozy, was sentenced to five years in prison on September 25, 2025, for criminal conspiracy tied to illicit campaign funds from Libya’s late leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
The Paris criminal court acquitted him of other charges, including corruption and illegal campaign financing.
Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, denounced the verdict as a blow to the rule of law and announced plans to appeal.
Despite the appeal, the ruling mandates immediate enforcement, marking a historic moment as Sarkozy becomes the first former French president to face imprisonment.
The court found Sarkozy guilty of allowing close aides to contact Libyan officials to secure financial support for his 2007 presidential campaign.
Judge Nathalie Gavarino noted that while no direct evidence linked the funds to Sarkozy’s campaign, the timing and opaque financial paths supported the conspiracy charge.
Sarkozy was also fined €100,000 ($117,000).
The ruling stunned observers, with the judge emphasizing that Sarkozy’s actions undermined trust in the justice system.
Other figures, including former interior ministers Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux, were also convicted on related charges.
Sarkozy, visibly shaken, addressed reporters outside the courtroom, stating, “What happened today... is of extreme gravity in regard to the rule of law, and for the trust one can have in the justice system.”
He vowed to maintain his innocence, saying, “If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high.”
The case, initiated in 2013 after allegations from Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam and businessman Ziad Takieddine, is one of several legal battles Sarkozy has faced since leaving office.
Previous convictions include a 2021 bribery case and a 2024 ruling for campaign overspending, underscoring ongoing scrutiny of his political legacy.