Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, 70, is set to begin his five-year prison sentence following a Paris court’s ruling on Monday. Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy for allegedly financing his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from Libya. Despite his claims of innocence and an ongoing appeal, the court ordered immediate incarceration, citing the severity of the offense and its impact on public order. Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, is the first former French leader in modern history to face actual prison time. The court granted him 18 days to organize his affairs before reporting to the National Financial Prosecutor’s office to finalize the incarceration date. Sarkozy’s supporters argue that his appeal should grant him the presumption of innocence under French law, but the ruling aligns with France’s judicial norms, where 90% of adults sentenced to at least two years are immediately imprisoned. The case revolves around allegations that Sarkozy, as a presidential candidate and interior minister, orchestrated corruption at the highest level, leveraging Libyan funds with the help of close associates. Sarkozy maintains the charges are part of a plot by the Gadhafi regime, retaliating for his role in the 2011 NATO intervention that led to Gadhafi’s downfall. For safety, Sarkozy is expected to be held in a high-security ‘VIP area’ of La Santé prison, where he will have access to basic amenities and can file a release request pending his appeal trial, likely scheduled for next spring.
Sarkozy prison date to be set. Here’s why the former French president will serve time despite appeal
