The date for Nicolas Sarkozy’s imprisonment will be set Monday, after the former French president was sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his winning 2007 campaign with funds from Libya.
The Associated Press
October 12, 2025 at 6:10AM
PARIS — The date for Nicolas Sarkozy’s imprisonment will be set Monday, after the former French president was sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his winning 2007 campaign with funds from Libya.
Sarkozy, 70, says he’s innocent. He denounced the verdict as ”a scandal” and filed an appeal. He is the first former president of modern France sentenced to actual time behind bars.
Sarkozy, who was involved in several other legal cases, was France’s president from 2007 to 2012. He has been retired from active politics for years but remains very influential, especially in conservative circles.
Why Sarkozy is going to prison
In a surprise decision, the Paris court said the prison sentence, which would otherwise have been suspended on appeal, is effective immediately.
Sarkozy must be incarcerated without delay, the court explained, because
Sarkozy prison date to be set. Here’s why the former French president will serve time despite appeal
