Nicolas Sarkozy Begins Jail Sentence Over Libyan Campaign Finance Scandal

Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president, has begun serving a five-year prison sentence at La Santé prison in Paris after being convicted of a criminal conspiracy to fund his 2007 presidential campaign with money from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. This makes Sarkozy the first modern French leader to be incarcerated, a historic moment in France’s political history.

Sarkozy, who led the country from 2007 to 2012, was convicted for orchestrating secret campaign financing through close aides Brice Hortefeux and Claude Guéant, while he was acquitted of personally receiving Libyan funds. The scandal emerged amid investigations into lavish campaign spending and the alleged involvement of Gaddafi’s regime in funneling millions of euros into Sarkozy’s election efforts.

As he left his Paris villa in the exclusive 16th district, Sarkozy was cheered by supporters, including more than 100 people who called out his name. His wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and their sons accompanied him as he was driven to the Montparnasse-area prison under tight police security. Before entering, Sarkozy posted a message on X, asserting his innocence and expressing hope that the truth would prevail, describing the situation as a “France humiliated by a will for revenge.”

At La Santé, Sarkozy has been placed in the isolation wing for his own safety, given the prison’s high-profile inmates. His small cell includes a toilet, shower, desk, a small TV, and limited space for exercise, with only one hour allowed daily in the segregated courtyard. Prison authorities have noted that these measures are to ensure his safety and minimize contact with other detainees, some convicted of serious offenses.

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Sarkozy’s incarceration follows years of legal troubles. He has faced multiple criminal inquiries since leaving office, including a previous six-month sentence in the Bygmalion affair, which is still under appeal. Despite maintaining his innocence, he was compelled to begin his sentence immediately due to the seriousness of the charges in the Libyan campaign financing case.

The former president received a visit from current President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, a gesture Macron described as a human acknowledgment rather than a political statement. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin also indicated plans to check on Sarkozy’s safety and ensure the prison functions properly during his sentence.

Sarkozy has indicated that he intends to continue appealing the conviction while serving his term and plans to bring two books into prison: a biography of Jesus by Jean-Christian Petitfils and Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, a tale of wrongful imprisonment and vengeance.