Nicolas Sarkozy Convicted in Libyan Campaign Financing Case
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is convicted for his role in Libyan campaign financing.
- • Sarkozy sentenced to five years for 'association de malfaiteurs'.
- • Acquitted of direct corruption related to campaign financing.
- • Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux also convicted.
- • Sarkozy plans to appeal the ruling.
Key details
On September 25, 2025, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty of 'association de malfaiteurs' in a politically charged case involving alleged Libyan financing of his successful 2007 presidential campaign. The court's decision comes after a long legal battle that scrutinized Sarkozy's connections to Libyan leader Muammar al-Kadhafi, who is accused of supporting Sarkozy's campaign financially.
The Paris tribunal correctionnel handed down a five-year prison sentence to Sarkozy, coupled with a €100,000 fine and a five-year suspension from holding public office. Despite the serious nature of the charges, Sarkozy was acquitted of direct corruption in campaign financing. He expressed outrage at the verdict, asserting it was an extreme injustice and conveying his intention to appeal the ruling. "I will continue to fight for my innocence," Sarkozy stated after the verdict was announced.
Two of Sarkozy's close associates were also implicated in the case. Claude Guéant, his former chief of staff, was convicted of passive corruption among other charges, which involved monetary dealings between 2007 and 2009. Meanwhile, Brice Hortefeux, another former minister and confidant, was found guilty of 'association de malfaiteurs,' correlating to actions from 2005 to 2007, but was acquitted of complicity in illegal campaign financing.
Éric Woerth, who served as the treasurer of Sarkozy's campaign, was fully acquitted of all charges against him. This legal outcome has sparked varying reactions within the political landscape, with supporters like Laurent Wauquiez rallying behind Sarkozy, while critics, including Marine Le Pen, argued that the judicial process undermined the principle of presumption of innocence.
The case highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding Sarkozy’s campaign financing, with the Libya Africa Investment Portfolio, which claims it was wronged in this affair, welcoming the court's acknowledgment of its losses which exceed €9 million. Overall, this conviction marks a significant chapter in French political history, raising questions about integrity and accountability in campaign financing amidst ongoing debates in France regarding justice and political corruption.