Ziad Takieddine, Key Figure in Sarkozy Scandal, Passes Away at 75

Ziad Takieddine, a Franco-Lebanese businessman pivotal in the controversy over alleged Libyan financing of Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 presidential campaign, died at the age of 75 in Beirut on September 23. His lawyer, Me Elise Arfi, confirmed that Takieddine's health had been in decline prior to his passing.

Takieddine was notorious for claiming to have delivered substantial sums of money to Sarkozy's campaign team, particularly €5 million to Claude Guéant, Sarkozy's former chief of staff, which he allegedly received in funds from Muammar Kadhafi's regime. He had been a primary accuser in the ongoing investigations since 2012 and fled to Lebanon after being convicted in a separate campaign financing scandal related to Edouard Balladur, for which he received a five-year prison sentence in 2020.

In early 2025, he faced charges relating to the Sarkozy campaign financing scandal, which included accusations of corruption and a possible six-year prison sentence combined with a €3 million fine. He did not appear at the trial, leading to continued legal troubles and an outstanding arrest warrant against him. Co-defendants in the case criticized Takieddine, branding him a liar and alleging self-interest.

According to sources, Takieddine's testimony pointed toward a broader network of corruption involving figures close to the Kadhafi regime, underscoring the significant implications of his allegations for Sarkozy's political legacy. In recent years, his reliability as a witness had been under scrutiny, particularly following his temporary retraction of testimony in 2020, which is still under investigation.

His death marks a critical moment in the ongoing exploration of the links between Sarkozy's political career and alleged illicit financial dealings with Libya. The implications of his passing for the still-evolving legal landscape surrounding these allegations remain to be seen, but it undoubtedly leaves significant questions unanswered in a case that has captivated both political and public interest in France.