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French prosecutors have requested a seven-year prison sentence for former President Nicolas Sarkozy over illegal campaign financing linked to Libya. They have also called for a €300,000 fine and a five-year ban on his civic and political rights. If the court agrees, Sarkozy would be barred from holding public office or serving in judicial roles.

This case is one of the most serious legal challenges the former president has faced. Prosecutors argue that Sarkozy knowingly accepted illegal financial aid from Muammar Gaddafi’s regime during his successful 2007 presidential campaign.

The Libya Allegations and Their Origins

Accusations of Sarkozy’s financial ties to Libya surfaced in 2011. A Libyan news agency first reported that Gaddafi’s government had secretly funded his 2007 campaign. Around the same time, Gaddafi himself publicly claimed that he provided financial support to Sarkozy’s election bid. The allegations came while Sarkozy was still a key figure in French politics.

In 2012, the French investigative website Mediapart published a Libyan intelligence memo detailing a €50 million deal between Gaddafi’s regime and Sarkozy’s campaign team. Sarkozy denied the allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against Mediapart. However, French magistrates later confirmed that the memo appeared authentic. Despite this, investigators have yet to prove whether the entire €50 million was actually transferred.

Investigators Follow the Money Trail

French investigators have closely examined the financial connections between Sarkozy’s inner circle and Libya. Between 2005 and 2007, Sarkozy’s associates made several trips to Libya.

One key figure in the investigation is Ziad Takieddine, a businessman who claimed in 2016 that he personally delivered suitcases full of Libyan cash to Sarkozy’s Interior Ministry. According to Takieddine, he transported money from Tripoli to Paris to help fund Sarkozy’s campaign.

However, Takieddine later retracted his statement, creating confusion about the reliability of his testimony. French authorities are now investigating whether someone pressured him to withdraw his claims.

Separate Investigation Into Sarkozy and Carla Bruni

The legal troubles for Sarkozy do not end with campaign financing. Prosecutors are also investigating whether Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, attempted to influence Takieddine’s testimony. That case is separate from the Libya trial, but it adds to the growing number of legal battles facing the former president.

Other Key Figures in the Trial

Sarkozy is not the only high-profile figure facing legal action. Several of his former ministers and close allies are also on trial.

Among them are:

• Claude Guéant (Former Interior Minister)
• Brice Hortefeux (Former Minister of Immigration and Sarkozy’s longtime friend)
• Éric Woerth (Former Budget Minister)

Prosecutors have charged eight additional defendants, all suspected of helping to channel Libyan funds into Sarkozy’s 2007 election campaign. Despite the multiple charges, prosecutors emphasize that Sarkozy remains the central figure in the case.

Prosecutors: Sarkozy Knew About Illegal Funding

French prosecutors insist that Sarkozy was fully aware of the illicit Libyan financing. They argue that the money played a key role in helping him win the presidency in 2007.

The trial began in January 2025 and is expected to conclude on April 10. If convicted, Sarkozy could make history as the first French president found guilty of accepting illegal foreign funds.

Sarkozy’s Troubled Legal History

This is not the first time Sarkozy has been convicted of financial misconduct. In December 2024, France’s highest court upheld a corruption conviction against him. In that case, he was sentenced to one year of house arrest with an electronic tag. The conviction was based on wiretaps recorded during the Libya investigation.

In February 2024, another French court found Sarkozy guilty of illegally financing his 2012 re-election campaign. That conviction added to his growing list of legal troubles and further damaged his political reputation.

Sarkozy’s Defense: A Political Conspiracy

Despite the serious charges, Sarkozy has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He claims the allegations are part of a politically motivated attack and based on forged documents. He has called the Mediapart memo fake and dismissed witness statements as unreliable.

His defense lawyers argue that prosecutors lack concrete evidence to prove he received Libyan money. They insist that the case relies on hearsay, unverified claims, and political bias.

The Verdict Could Change French Politics

A guilty verdict in the Libya case would be a historic moment for France. Sarkozy would become the first former president convicted of accepting foreign funds for an election campaign. Such a ruling could permanently end his influence in French politics.

The court is expected to deliver its final ruling later this year. Until then, Sarkozy remains one of the most controversial figures in French history.