France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose corruption conviction was upheld by France’s highest court on Wednesday, is facing multiple legal challenges in recent years. Another trial is set to begin next month regarding alleged financing from Libya for his 2007 presidential campaign. Sarkozy, 69, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, has consistently maintained his innocence and withdrew from active politics in 2017. Here is an overview of the legal issues he is entangled in:
1. Wiretapping scandal: The Court of Cassation confirmed the previous court’s ruling that found Sarkozy guilty of corruption and influence peddling during his time as president. He has been sentenced to a year in prison, but is expected to request home detention with an electronic bracelet, as permitted by French law. Sarkozy plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. The case involved attempts to bribe a magistrate for information about a legal matter in which he was implicated.
2. Alleged Libya financing: Sarkozy faces charges, alongside 12 others, related to illegal financing for his 2007 campaign allegedly provided by the late Libyan leader Gadhafi’s government. The investigation began in 2013 and includes accusations of passive corruption, embezzlement of public funds, and violation of campaign financing regulations. The probe gained momentum when a businessman claimed to have delivered cash from Libya to Sarkozy and his staff. Sarkozy welcomed Gadhafi to France in 2007 and later supported NATO-led actions against his regime in 2011.
3. Witness tampering: Last year, Sarkozy was charged with attempting to mislead judges to manipulate the outcomes of the Libya financing case. Prosecutors allege he influenced a witness, Ziad Takieddine, who initially accused him of receiving illicit funds from Libya. Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, also faces charges for her role in pressuring the witness. Bruni-Sarkozy is under judicial supervision with restrictions on communication regarding the case.
4. Illegal campaign financing conviction: In February of this year, a Paris appeals court upheld a guilty verdict against Sarkozy for surpassing legal campaign funding limits in his 2012 re-election bid. He received a one-year prison sentence, with half of it suspended. Sarkozy is accused of exceeding the lawful expenditure cap during his campaign.
Nicolas Sarkozy spent millions of euros on his unsuccessful re-election campaign against Socialist candidate Francois Hollande. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Sarkozy’s legal team has filed an appeal to the Court of Cassation challenging the verdict in the case.
