A Paris criminal court has found Nicolas Sarkozy, former French president, guilty of criminal conspiracy in the so-called Libyan funding case tied to his 2007 presidential campaign. He was cleared of other charges including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. The court is expected to hand down a sentence later, though at age 70 Sarkozy will appeal the verdict, which may suspend enforcement.

The Case and Prosecutor’s Claims

The prosecution argued that Sarkozy secured millions in campaign funds from Libya’s late leader Muammar Gaddafi, in exchange for diplomatic support and political favors. They requested a seven-year sentence and a €300,000 fine, along with a ban from political office, calling the scheme “high-intensity corruption” and likening it to a “Faustian pact” with a dictator.

Defense, Denials, and Context

Sarkozy vigorously denied all charges, branding the case a political conspiracy. He insisted no Libyan funds ever entered his campaign coffers. His defense challenged the reliability of testimony and evidence, particularly the claims made by businessman Ziad Takieddine, who long alleged he delivered suitcases of cash from Libya before later retracting those claims.

Verdict Details & Other Defendants

The court’s verdict centers only on the conspiracy charge; it acquitted Sarkozy of passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, and concealment of embezzled public funds. Other figures implicated in the case include former ministers Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux, some of whom received convictions or acquittals tied to related counts.

Political And Symbolic Stakes

If upheld on appeal, the conviction would mark a dramatic fall for a former head of state in what many call France’s most consequential campaign financing scandal. It reignites debates over foreign influence, transparency in political financing, and the accountability of elites. Legal observers say the Takieddine retractions and his recent death add layers of complexity to any future appeals. Domestically, the verdict may influence public trust in political institutions, especially given Sarkozy’s continued influence on the French right