Overview
- The court found Sarkozy guilty of taking part in a criminal conspiracy linked to alleged Libyan funding and imposed a five‑year custodial term and a €100,000 fine.
- Judges acquitted him of illegal campaign financing, passive corruption and concealment, stating they could not prove Libyan money ultimately financed his 2007 campaign.
- Sarkozy said he will appeal and will not seek a presidential pardon, and under French procedure an appeal does not automatically suspend the sentence.
- The National Financial Prosecutor summoned him for 13 October to set enforcement details, and RTL reported a protected cell prepared for him at Paris’s Santé prison.
- Prosecutors had sought seven years and a €300,000 fine, and reactions followed, with Florian Philippot calling the punishment too lenient and Marine Le Pen condemning the process as excessively harsh.