Politics France's ex-President Sarkozy is released under conditions
After just under three weeks in prison, France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy has been allowed to leave prison again under certain conditions.
10.11.2025, 15:03
10.11.2025, 15:04
SDA
The Paris Court of Appeal ruled that the 70-year-old can await the appeal proceedings against his five-year sentence in the Libya affair under judicial supervision in freedom. The appeal trial is expected in the spring.
In a unique procedure, Sarkozy was sent to prison by warrant in October. A Paris criminal court had sentenced him to five years in prison for membership of a criminal organization in the affair concerning alleged election campaign funds from Libya. The court ordered the sentence to be carried out provisionally, although the conservative appealed. Never before in recent French history has a former head of state received such a harsh sentence.
Judicial supervision instead of a cell
Sarkozy then had to spend around three weeks in La Santé prison in Paris. He was housed in an isolated and specially protected area, but in a normal, plain cell. Upon entering prison, the conservative's lawyers were able to request that the 70-year-old be released from prison for the time being, and did so immediately. This has now been granted.
Because Sarkozy is contesting the verdict, he is not considered a convicted criminal, but merely a suspect. However, as his detention with provisional execution was determined by the court, he still had to be detained.
One of the conditions attached to Sarkozy's release from prison by the court of appeal was that the former president was not allowed to leave France. In addition, a ban on contact with those involved in the trial and with Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin was imposed. The latter had visited Sarkozy, who was his political mentor, in prison, thereby attracting criticism. Darmanin had justified the visit in advance by saying that he wanted to make sure that the security conditions were appropriate.
Did "Sarko" want to procure funds from Libya?
The Libya affair is about the allegation that money was illegally obtained for Sarkozy's presidential election campaign in 2007 from the Libyan leadership under the then ruler Muammar Gaddafi.
Sarkozy had always maintained his innocence in the proceedings. He saw his conviction as an "intolerable injustice" and a scandal. "I will fight until my last breath to prove my complete innocence." However, a decision at second instance is not likely to be made until next year at the earliest. It is uncertain whether Sarkozy can expect an acquittal or a more lenient sentence.
From the highest state office to prison
Sarkozy's stay in prison is a deep fall and his worst defeat to date in the battle he has been waging with the judiciary for years. The former hopeful of the French bourgeois right had already been convicted in two other cases, one of which was legally binding.
He had to wear an ankle bracelet for a good three months for bribery and undue influence. He was only allowed to leave his house at certain times. The original sentence of one year was shortened due to the old age of the leading politician.
Sarkozy's time in office at the Élysée Palace from 2007 to 2012 was already characterized by affairs involving rich friends, nepotism and excessive government members. He lost the 2012 election as the incumbent against the socialist François Hollande. Five years later, he failed the internal party selection process. Despite his battle with the judiciary and lack of office, he was considered an influential voice among supporters of the bourgeois right until the end.
