French prosecutors have demanded a seven-year prison sentence for former President Nicolas Sarkozy over allegations that he accepted illegal campaign funds from Libya. They have also requested a €300,000 fine and a five-year ban on his civic, civil, and family rights. If granted, this ban would prevent Sarkozy from holding any elected office or judicial position.

A High-Stakes Trial Over 2007 Campaign Financing

The case focuses on Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign, which authorities claim was secretly funded by former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Prosecutors argue that millions of euros in illegal cash flowed from Gaddafi’s regime into Sarkozy’s campaign coffers, violating French campaign finance laws.

The trial, which began in January, is expected to conclude by April 10. This case is considered the most serious legal scandal Sarkozy has faced since leaving office in 2012. The allegations, if proven, could have lasting effects on his legacy and the reputation of the French political system.

Sarkozy Denies All Charges

Now 70, Sarkozy served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012. He faces multiple charges, including passive corruption, campaign finance violations, and criminal conspiracy. Authorities have also accused him of hiding embezzled public funds.

Sarkozy has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated and insists that the case is built on false evidence.

The Origins of the Libya Allegations

The claims linking Sarkozy to illegal Libyan financing date back to 2011, when a Libyan news agency and Gaddafi himself publicly stated that Libya had helped fund Sarkozy’s campaign.

In 2012, French investigative outlet Mediapart published a memo suggesting that Sarkozy received €50 million from Gaddafi’s regime. Sarkozy immediately dismissed the document as a forgery and sued for defamation. However, French magistrates later concluded that the memo was likely authentic. Despite this, no final proof of an actual transaction has been presented in court.

Tracking the Money Trail

Investigators have followed a complex web of financial transactions and key trips taken by Sarkozy’s associates between 2005 and 2007. One of the most notable testimonies came from Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, who claimed in 2016 that he personally transported cash-filled suitcases from Libya to France. He later retracted his statement, saying his earlier claim was false.

That reversal led authorities to open a separate investigation into possible witness tampering. Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, were placed under preliminary investigation in connection with that case.

Former Ministers Also on Trial

Several of Sarkozy’s former ministers are also implicated in the Libya financing scandal. Prosecutors have charged Claude Guéant, Brice Hortefeux, and Éric Woerth, all of whom played key roles in Sarkozy’s government.

In total, eight other individuals have been indicted in connection with the case. However, prosecutors argue that Sarkozy remains the central figure in what they describe as a high-level “corruption pact.”

Past Convictions Increase Pressure on Sarkozy

Sarkozy is already facing legal troubles from previous cases. In December 2024, France’s highest court upheld his conviction for corruption and influence peddling. That case resulted in a one-year house arrest sentence with electronic surveillance.

The ruling was based on tapped phone calls linked to the Libya probe. The conversations allegedly revealed that Sarkozy tried to bribe a judge in exchange for confidential information about another ongoing case.

In February 2024, Sarkozy was also convicted of illegally financing his failed 2012 re-election campaign. These prior rulings add to the pressure he now faces in the Libya case.

A Case That Could Define Sarkozy’s Legacy

Prosecutors argue that Sarkozy knowingly accepted money from Gaddafi’s dictatorship and used it to secure his election victory. If convicted, he would become the first former French president found guilty of accepting illegal foreign campaign funds.

Observers see the case as one of the most politically damaging scandals in recent French history. Sarkozy’s presidency was already controversial, but this case could overshadow his entire political career.

Political Bias and Forged Evidence

Sarkozy maintains that the charges against him are false and politically motivated. He claims that the evidence presented in court is unreliable and accuses prosecutors of using forged documents to build their case.

Despite his legal troubles, Sarkozy still has supporters who believe he is being unfairly targeted. His legal team has vowed to fight the charges, and the former president continues to insist on his innocence.

A final verdict in the Libya financing case is expected later this year.