French court sentences Sarkozy to five years in prison in Libyan financing case

A court in Paris issued a ruling today, Thursday, sentencing former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison after convicting him of criminal conspiracy with Libya in the case of illegal financing of his 2007 election campaign.

The court clarified that investigations proved attempts to obtain funds from the regime of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to support the campaign, while acquitting Sarkozy of other charges including direct corruption and receiving electoral funds illegally. He was also fined 100,000 euros.

Sarkozy, who has consistently denied these accusations and considered them "politically motivated," announced through his lawyers that he would appeal the ruling, but the decision means he will serve the sentence even if an appeal is filed, unless the execution is suspended by a subsequent court decision.

The case, which began its trial in early 2025, is considered one of the most prominent legal issues that have pursued the former French president since leaving the Élysée Palace in 2012, and represents a new blow to his political and legal career.