PARIS – Nicolas Sarkozy, the former President of France, arrived at the La Santé prison in Paris on Tuesday to begin serving a five-year prison sentence after being convicted for illegal campaign financing.
The 69-year-old, who led France from 2007 to 2012, was found guilty by the courts of engaging in a criminal conspiracy. The case centered on allegations that he accepted millions of euros in illegal funds for his 2007 presidential election campaign from the regime of the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
Despite the conviction, Sarkozy maintains his innocence. Taking to the social media platform X shortly before surrendering to authorities, he posted a defiant message, writing that he was “being jailed an innocent man.” He concluded the statement with a vow that “Truth will prevail.”
The sentencing marks a dramatic fall from grace for the former head of state, who has faced a series of legal battles since leaving office. This case, often referred to as the “Gaddafi financing” affair, represents one of the most significant corruption scandals in modern French political history, alleging that a foreign power directly interfered in the country’s democratic process.
The commencement of his prison term solidifies Sarkozy’s status as the first former French president in the modern era to be incarcerated, setting a stark precedent in the nation’s political landscape.
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