Overview

• Judges found Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of criminal conspiracy tied to aides’ efforts to solicit support from Libyan officials for his 2007 campaign.
• He was acquitted of passive corruption, embezzlement of Libyan public funds and illegal campaign financing after the court said there was insufficient proof that Libyan money entered his campaign.
• The sentence is immediately enforceable under a deferred detention order, meaning it can be executed before appellate rulings are issued.
• Sarkozy maintains his innocence, denounced the decision as politically driven, vowed to appeal, and was ordered to pay a fine.
• Conservative allies condemned the ruling and urged President Emmanuel Macron to consider a pardon, as separate investigations involving Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid and matters linked to Arnaud Lagardère remain active.