Overview

• The conviction makes Sarkozy the first former French president ordered to serve prison time, for participating in a criminal association tied to alleged Libyan funding of his 2007 campaign.
• The court dismissed bribery and illegal campaign-financing counts, citing a lack of material proof despite suggestive elements.
• Judges ordered the term to be carried out despite any appeal, with prosecutors to notify Sarkozy on 13 October of when he must begin serving the sentence.
• Sarkozy called the verdict a scandal, announced an appeal, and may seek conversion of incarceration to house arrest with electronic monitoring due to his age.
• Judicial unions say the presiding judge received online death threats as reactions split sharply, with right‑wing figures denouncing the ruling and left parties defending the judiciary.