Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in jail on Thursday for criminal conspiracy over attempts to raise campaign funds from Libya, a spectacular downfall for the conservative who led France from 2007 to 2012.
The sentence, which makes Sarkozy the first president in France’s modern history to be imprisoned, was harsher than many expected and stunned allies and opponents alike.
As he exited the courtroom, Sarkozy, visibly moved, denounced what he called a “scandalous” ruling.
“If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high,” he told reporters. “I will not apologise for something I didn’t do.”
“What happened today ... is of extreme gravity in regard to the rule of law, and for the trust one can have in the justice system,” he added, as his wife, model and singer-songwriter Carla Bruni, stood beside him.
Sarkozy found guilty of conspiracy
The court found Sarkozy guilty of criminal conspiracy over efforts by close aides to procure funds from Libya during the rule of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi for his 2007 presidential bid.
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He was acquitted of other charges, including corruption and receiving illegal campaign financing.
“We were shocked (by the sentence) because when we started hearing the decision being read out, we thought his innocence would be recognised,” lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois said. “We hope the appeals court will see things more clearly and will recognise his innocence.”
Sentence enforceable immediately
The prison sentence is enforceable within a month. French media reported Sarkozy will be summoned on October 13 to be told when he must report to jail.
The judge said there was no direct proof Sarkozy struck a deal with Gaddafi or that Libyan funds reached his campaign coffers, though she noted the “opaque” money trail was compatible with the timeline.
She said Sarkozy was guilty of conspiracy between 2005 and 2007, when as interior minister he allowed close aides to seek Libyan financing. From May 2007, as president, he was covered by immunity.
Mixed reactions
The ruling drew sharp responses across the political spectrum. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, herself convicted earlier this year of embezzling EU funds, warned it was “a grave danger” for judges to issue enforceable rulings before appeals.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and other conservatives expressed support for Sarkozy, while left-wing politicians hailed the decision as proof of judicial independence.
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Vincent Brengarth, lawyer for campaign group Sherpa, welcomed the ruling, saying it “confirms we have an independent justice system that can be brave.”
Public reaction in Paris was divided. “It’s a good thing that Mr. Sarkozy, the former president of France, is being held accountable,” said student Clement Buy. But pensioner Jacqueline Erman disagreed: “We pick fights with people who are involved in politics ... other parties are perhaps afraid of them, that’s all.”
More legal troubles ahead
Despite losing his Legion of Honour in June, Sarkozy remains influential. He recently met Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and has spoken positively of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, calling it part of the “republican arc.”
Sarkozy has faced multiple convictions since leaving office. Last year, France’s top court upheld a ruling for corruption and influence peddling, ordering him to wear an electronic tag for a year. An appeals court also confirmed a conviction for illegal financing of his failed 2012 re-election bid, with a final decision expected next month.
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