Ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy Jailed

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison after a Paris court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy linked to alleged Libyan funding for his 2007 presidential campaign.

The ruling, delivered on Thursday, marks one of the most severe penalties ever handed down to a French head of state.

Although Sarkozy was acquitted of separate charges of corruption and illegal campaign financing, the court ruled that he conspired with close aides to solicit funds from Libya under the rule of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Sarkozy, 70, was accused of seeking campaign money in 2005 while serving as France’s interior minister. Prosecutors alleged that the arrangement was in exchange for diplomatic support to Gaddafi’s then-isolated regime.

However, he has consistently denied wrongdoing and described the case as politically motivated.

The court, in its ruling, said there was insufficient proof that Sarkozy personally struck a deal with Gaddafi or that Libyan funds directly entered his campaign coffers, but concluded he was guilty of enabling a criminal conspiracy by allowing his inner circle to pursue illicit financing avenues.

Among those convicted alongside him were former top aide Claude Guéant, who was found guilty of corruption, and ex-Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux, who was also convicted of conspiracy.

Despite his mounting legal troubles, including previous convictions for corruption and illegal campaign financing, Sarkozy continues to wield influence in French politics.

He recently met with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and has openly lent support to Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, describing the far-right movement as part of France’s “republican arc.”

Stripped of his Legion of Honour earlier this year, Sarkozy remains a huge influence in the French political landscape. His legal team has vowed to appeal the judgment.