Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been convicted of criminal conspiracy related to illicit funding from the late Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. A Paris criminal court found him guilty but acquitted him of charges of passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, is accused of using Gaddafi’s funds to support his 2007 election campaign in exchange for assistance in rehabilitating Gaddafi’s image in the West.

Judge Nathalie Gavarino stated that Sarkozy allowed aides to approach Libyan officials for campaign financial support but ruled there was insufficient evidence to link him directly to benefiting from the illegal financing. Sentencing is expected later today. The investigation originated in 2013 following allegations from Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi’s son, about millions being funneled for Sarkozy’s campaign. Further claims by businessman Ziad Takieddine indicated ongoing payments even after Sarkozy assumed the presidency.

Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, faces charges related to concealing evidence in the Gaddafi case, which she denies. Since losing the presidential election in 2012, Sarkozy has faced multiple criminal investigations. In 2024, he was convicted of overspending during his re-election campaign, receiving a one-year sentence. In 2021, he became the first former French president sentenced to jail for bribing a judge, although later allowed to serve his sentence at home under electronic monitoring.



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