A Paris court sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison after finding him guilty of criminally conspiring with the Libyan government, led by Muammar Gaddafi, to secure illegal campaign financing on Thursday. The verdict marks a significant development in a long-running legal saga surrounding Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign.
Sarkozy, who has consistently denied the allegations, was accused of entering into an illicit agreement with Gaddafi’s regime. The prosecution alleged that Sarkozy offered to support the then-isolated Libyan government on the international stage in exchange for campaign funds.
However, the judge acquitted Sarkozy of additional charges, including corruption, noting that there was no definitive evidence proving that Sarkozy made such a deal with Gaddafi or that Libyan funds directly reached his campaign coffers.
Despite the acquittal on other charges, the court’s ruling on the conspiracy charge ensures that Sarkozy faces a five-year prison term, which will take effect regardless of whether he chooses to appeal the decision. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge imposed a fine of 100,000 euros on the former president.
The case underscores the ongoing scrutiny of Sarkozy’s political career and raises questions about the integrity of campaign financing during his successful 2007 bid for the French presidency. The verdict represents a significant moment in France’s efforts to address allegations of foreign influence in its political processes.
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