Former French President Sarkozy sentenced to five years in Prison

Nicolas Sarkozy, who served as President of France from 2007 to 2012, has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of receiving money from Col. Muammar Gaddafi, the former Libyan leader, during his presidential campaign. The ruling was delivered by the Paris Criminal Court on Thursday, September 25, 2025, which ordered that Sarkozy be taken to prison immediately, regardless of any appeal. However, the court acquitted him of several other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. Sarkozy, 70, denounced the case as politically motivated after

Nicolas Sarkozy, who served as President of France from 2007 to 2012, has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of receiving money from Col. Muammar Gaddafi, the former Libyan leader, during his presidential campaign. The ruling was delivered by the Paris Criminal Court on Thursday, September 25, 2025, which ordered that Sarkozy be taken to prison immediately, regardless of any appeal. However, the court acquitted him of several other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. Sarkozy, 70, denounced the case as politically motivated after hearing the verdict. Prosecutors argued that in exchange for the money, Sarkozy promised to help Gaddafi improve his image among European and Western nations. Judge Nathalie Gavarino stated that Sarkozy had allowed close aides to contact Libyan officials to secure financial support for his campaign. The court ruled, however, that there was insufficient evidence to prove Sarkozy personally benefited from the illegal campaign financing. He was also fined €100,000. Others tried alongside him included former Interior Ministers Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux, who both served in his government. The court found Guéant guilty of corruption and other crimes, while Hortefeux was convicted of criminal conspiracy. “What happened today is extremely serious for the rule of law and for the trust citizens can have in the justice system,” Sarkozy told reporters outside the courthouse. “If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail — but with my head held high,” he added. Since 2013, reports have circulated that Sarkozy received over €50 million from Gaddafi to finance his 2007 campaign, which brought him to power.