Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be jailed on Tuesday for his role in securing Libyan funding for his 2007 presidential campaign. The conviction makes him the first former leader of a European Union country to serve prison time.
Sarkozy, who governed France between 2007 and 2012, was found guilty of criminal conspiracy involving late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He was sentenced in September by a Paris court and is to be held at La Santé prison in the French capital.
After the verdict, Sarkozy denounced the ruling as “an injustice” but said he would face imprisonment “with my head held high.”
The presiding judge, Nathalie Gavarino, described the case as one of “exceptional gravity” and ordered incarceration despite the former president’s appeal. Sarkozy’s legal team is expected to seek his release upon arrival at the facility, pending review within two months.
Prison officials said the 69-year-old will likely be placed in solitary confinement to ensure his safety and privacy. His cell measures about nine square metres, and he will be permitted a daily walk alone.
The case stems from allegations that Sarkozy’s aides brokered a secret deal with Gaddafi in 2005 to illegally finance the 2007 election. Prosecutors argued that the arrangement included political favours aimed at restoring Libya’s international image.
Although acquitted of direct embezzlement and corruption charges, Sarkozy’s conviction for conspiracy adds to his series of legal troubles. He previously served a sentence for attempting to bribe a judge.
Public opinion in France remains divided, with 60 percent of respondents in a recent poll describing the latest sentence as fair.
