Overview

• Judges found Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of criminal association for allowing close aides to seek Libyan support for his 2007 campaign, while acquitting him of corruption and illegal funding charges.
• Tribunal president Nathalie Gavarino said he permitted collaborators to pursue financing, and the court noted it could not prove Libyan money was ultimately used in the campaign.
• The sentence includes a €100,000 fine, and prosecutors had requested a seven-year term.
• Former aides were also convicted, with ex–chief of staff Claude Guéant receiving six years and ex-minister Brice Hortefeux two years, while campaign treasurer Éric Woerth was acquitted.
• Sarkozy rejected the verdict and will appeal, with authorities expected to notify him within a month of his reporting date, and the ruling followed the recent death of key accuser Ziad Takieddine.