Sarkozy Found Guilty in Libyan Campaign Funding Case

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been found guilty by a Paris court of participating in a criminal conspiracy in the case of illegal financing of his 2007 election campaign by the regime of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. This verdict became the culmination of one of the largest political scandals in modern French history, as a result of which Sarkozy now faces a long-term prison sentence.

The court found it established that Sarkozy and his aides had entered into a "corruption pact" with the Gaddafi regime to obtain illegal funding to win the 2007 presidential election. According to the prosecution, in exchange for the funds provided, which allegedly amounted to millions of euros and were delivered to Paris in suitcases, Sarkozy promised to restore Gaddafi's international reputation. A striking manifestation of this cooperation was Gaddafi's state visit to Paris in 2007, during which he pitched his Bedouin tent near the Élysée Palace.

Although the court found Sarkozy guilty of criminal conspiracy, he was acquitted on the other three charges of passive corruption, embezzlement of Libyan state funds, and illegal campaign financing. The sentence has not yet been announced, but it is expected that Sarkozy, who has consistently denied all charges, will immediately appeal the verdict.

This case is the most serious trial against Sarkozy, although he has already been convicted in two other separate cases for corruption and for concealing the expenses of his 2012 election campaign. During the trial, which lasted three months, numerous pieces of evidence were presented that pointed to the close ties between Sarkozy and the Gaddafi regime.