Nicolas Sarkozy Rejects Presidential Pardon: I Will Prevail and Prove My Integrity

In his first comment after the court ruling, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy firmly rejected the idea of requesting a presidential pardon, asserting that he will continue his legal battle until he fully proves his integrity.

His statements came after a court ruling sentenced him to five years in prison for being accused of receiving illegal Libyan funding for his presidential campaign in 2007.

In an interview with the French newspaper "Le Journal du Dimanche," published this Sunday morning, September 28, 2025, Sarkozy emphasized that he "does not expect at all" any presidential pardon from current President Emmanuel Macron, stating clearly:

"To receive a pardon, you must acknowledge the judgment against you and plead guilty. I will never admit to a crime I did not commit. I will fight to the end to have my integrity recognized."

He concluded his remarks with striking words: "I will prevail."

A court in the French capital, Paris, issued a five-year prison sentence against Sarkozy last Thursday after convicting him of "allowing close associates to communicate with the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to obtain illegal funding" for his presidential election campaign in 2007.

The court confirmed that the ruling is not final yet, as Sarkozy immediately announced his intention to appeal the judgment, meaning that a presidential pardon is not an available option at this time, as it is only granted after a final enforceable ruling is issued.

It is noteworthy that this case has sparked widespread controversy in political and media circles, especially as it involves one of the most prominent figures in French politics over the past two decades.