France’s highest court has confirmed the conviction of former President Nicolas Sarkozy for the illegal financing of his 2012 re-election campaign. Sarkozy, who served as France’s leader from 2007 to 2012, was found guilty of exceeding the €22.5 million campaign spending limit and subsequently hiring the PR firm Bygmalion to conceal the overspending. The court upheld a one-year sentence, with six months suspended, allowing Sarkozy to serve the term under electronic monitoring instead of incarceration. Sarkozy has consistently denied all allegations. Prosecutors revealed that his UMP party spent nearly double the legal cap, splurging on extravagant campaign events. To mask the expenses, Bygmalion was instructed to invoice the party directly rather than the campaign. This marks Sarkozy’s second definitive conviction. Last December, he was found guilty of corruption and served six months under electronic surveillance. In September, he received a five-year prison sentence for criminal conspiracy, though he was released after 20 days. An appeal trial is scheduled for next year, during which Sarkozy will remain under strict judicial supervision and prohibited from leaving France. Shortly after his release, Sarkozy’s team announced he is writing a book titled ‘A Prisoner’s Diary,’ detailing his three-week incarceration. An excerpt shared on social media reflects on his prison experience, describing the constant noise and the strengthening of inner life during confinement.