Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy related to his 2007 presidential campaign. The Paris court determined he received illicit funding from the regime of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Sarkozy, 70, was acquitted of three other charges, including corruption and misuse of public funds.

Following the verdict, Sarkozy stated he would accept the prison sentence, proclaiming he would “sleep in prison, but with my head held high.” He criticized the ruling as a “scandalous injustice” and vowed to appeal. Sarkozy emphasized that he would adhere to court orders while expressing discontent with the court’s decision, claiming it undermines the image of France and the trust in its judicial system.

His lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, argued that the immediate execution of the sentence, despite an appeal, appears excessive, especially given his client’s cooperation with the legal proceedings. Sarkozy will be summoned on October 13 to receive further details regarding his imprisonment. He departed the courthouse accompanied by his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and legal team, reiterating his confidence in ultimately clearing his name.



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