A Paris court on Thursday convicted former French president Nicolas Sarkozy of criminal conspiracy in connection with alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 election campaign, but acquitted him of corruption and illegal campaign funding.
Sarkozy, 70, who governed France from 2007 to 2012, has consistently denied the charges. He has already been convicted in two separate corruption cases, including the “Bygmalion affair,” and stripped of France’s highest national honour, the Legion of Honour.
Judge Nathalie Gavarino ruled that Sarkozy, then serving as a minister and party leader, “allowed his close collaborators and political supporters” to seek financial support from the regime of late Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi. However, the court did not find sufficient evidence to establish that Sarkozy directly benefited from the alleged payments. He was cleared of charges of embezzlement of Libyan funds, passive corruption, and illegal electoral financing.
Prosecutors had requested a seven-year prison term, with sentencing expected later in the proceedings. Sarkozy was in court for the verdict alongside his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
Two of his former aides were also convicted: ex-interior minister Brice Hortefeux for criminal conspiracy and Claude Guéant for passive corruption and falsification. Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign treasurer, Eric Woerth, was acquitted.
The ruling came just two days after the death in Beirut of Ziad Takieddine, the Franco-Lebanese businessman who had repeatedly claimed — before later retracting and contradicting himself — that he delivered millions of euros in cash from Kadhafi to Sarkozy’s team.
Despite multiple legal setbacks, Sarkozy continues to wield influence on the French right and maintains ties with President Emmanuel Macron.
