French prosecutors have asked an appeals court to sentence former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to seven years in prison over allegations that his 2007 presidential campaign received illegal funding from the Libyan regime of former leader Muammar Gaddafi. The request was made after three days of closing arguments in a case widely regarded as one of the biggest political corruption scandals in modern French history. Prosecutors accused Sarkozy of being “the principal beneficiary” and “the instigator” of a secret agreement with Libya to finance his successful 2007 election campaign. Sarkozy, 71, has repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting that no Libyan money ever entered his campaign or personal accounts. His lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, told the court the defense would prove Sarkozy’s “complete innocence.”
The former president was previously convicted in the original trial and sentenced to five years in prison. He reportedly spent 20 days in custody before being released while pursuing an appeal. Investigators allege that Sarkozy, then serving as interior minister under former president Jacques Chirac, negotiated a covert deal with the Libyan government in exchange for political and legal favors. Prosecutors claim two meetings held in Libya in 2005 by Sarkozy’s close allies Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux helped establish the arrangement. According to the prosecution, about €6 million was later transferred from Libyan accounts to controversial intermediary Ziad Takieddine, who died earlier this year. Authorities argue the alleged payments undermined the integrity of France’s presidential election process.
Prosecutors are also seeking prison sentences for Sarkozy’s former aides. Claude Guéant faces a proposed six-year sentence, while Brice Hortefeux could receive four years, including two suspended, with electronic monitoring for the remaining term. The case has also drawn reactions from victims’ groups. Guillaume Denoix de Saint Marc, founder of a French association linked to victims of the 1989 UTA DC-10 bombing blamed on Libyan intelligence officials, said he hopes Sarkozy “returns to prison.” The appeal trial, which has heard testimony from ten defendants over two months, is expected to conclude within weeks. The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on November 30. If convicted again, Sarkozy’s final legal option would be an appeal before France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation.
