French Prosecutors Seek 7 Years in Prison for Nicolas Sarkozy in Libyan Funding Trial
In a significant trial, former President Nicolas Sarkozy faces a seven-year prison term and €300,000 fine for allegedly accepting illegal funding from Libya for his 2007 campaign. Prosecutors argue this case reflects deep corruption and demand civic rights restrictions for Sarkozy and his associates. The outcome could impact France's political future.
hassan benyoub 
Paris, March 27, 2025 – In a high-profile trial shaking France’s political landscape, the financial prosecutor’s office demanded a seven-year prison sentence and a €300,000 fine for former President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday. The charges stem from allegations of illegal Libyan funding for his victorious 2007 presidential campaign. Alongside the prison term, prosecutors also requested a five-year ban on Sarkozy’s eligibility to hold public office, a penalty that could end the 70-year-old’s political career.
The courtroom was tense as Sarkozy, visibly shaken, faced the accusations after a grueling 12-week trial. Prosecutor Sébastien de la Touanne painted a grim picture, declaring, “A very dark portrait of a part of our Republic has emerged.” Targeting Sarkozy directly, he condemned the former leader’s “frenzied quest for funding” driven by a “devouring political ambition.” De la Touanne argued that only a firm prison sentence and fine could “protect society” and strip Sarkozy of certain civic rights.
Sarkozy, who has consistently denied the allegations, “contested the facts” and showed little awareness of the severity of the integrity breaches he is accused of, the prosecutor added. This marks Sarkozy’s fifth trial in five years, with a prior definitive conviction in the “Bismuth wiretapping” case, where he now wears an electronic ankle bracelet following a one-year sentence for corruption and influence peddling.
Heavy Penalties for Sarkozy’s Allies
The financial prosecutor’s office (PNF) also targeted key figures from Sarkozy’s inner circle. Claude Guéant, former Interior Minister, faces a proposed six-year sentence and €100,000 fine, while Brice Hortefeux, another close ally, could see three years in prison and a €150,000 penalty. Eric Woerth, the 2007 campaign treasurer, faces a one-year sentence and a €3,750 fine. These demands underscore the prosecution’s determination to dismantle what they describe as a corrupt network.
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Sarkozy’s Reaction and Defense
The trial resumed after a brief recess at 4:00 PM, with Sarkozy present, stone-faced and taking notes. Earlier, he had skipped parts of the hearing addressing tangential allegations, including a possible sham sale of Flemish paintings by Guéant and the overpriced purchase of a villa in southern France, allegedly used to conceal Libyan fund diversions.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, prosecutors portrayed Sarkozy as the “true decision-maker” and “instigator” of an “inconceivable, unprecedented, and indecent” corruption pact with the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. They allege Sarkozy promised diplomatic, legal, and economic favors to Gaddafi’s regime in exchange for campaign cash. Evidence of cash flow “traces” in Sarkozy’s winning campaign bolstered their case, they claimed.
The prosecution seeks convictions on all charges leveled since January 6, including corruption, misuse of public funds, illegal campaign financing, and criminal association—offenses carrying up to ten years in prison, a €375,000 fine, and a five-year civic rights ban.
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“Devouring Ambition” Under Scrutiny
“Behind the public figure emerges, through judicial investigations, the silhouette of a man driven by devouring personal ambition, willing to sacrifice core values like integrity, honesty, and uprightness on the altar of power,” said prosecutor Quentin Dandoy on Tuesday evening. Sarkozy, seated opposite the prosecution, seethed silently, occasionally flashing a strained smile or muttering inaudible remarks.
Later that day, Sarkozy took to social media, decrying the “excessive penalty demanded” by the PNF. His defense team is set to present its case on the trial’s final day, April 8.
Broader Implications
The PNF also seeks convictions for 11 other defendants, including Guéant, Hortefeux, and Woerth, alongside lesser-known figures like Ziad Takieddine (currently a fugitive) and Alexandre Djouhri, alleged intermediaries in the scheme. Prosecutors claim Guéant negotiated the corruption pact in 2005 on Sarkozy’s behalf, with Hortefeux implementing it and Woerth concealing cash inflows as campaign treasurer.
The trial has gripped France, spotlighting allegations of two funding channels—wire transfers and cash deliveries—linked to Libyan money. Additional defendants include Thierry Gaubert, a Sarkozy confidant, and Bechir Saleh, Gaddafi’s former chief of staff (also fugitive), alongside Saudi businessmen, a Franco-Djiboutian banker, and an ex-Airbus executive.
As the trial nears its climax, the stakes remain sky-high for Sarkozy and his co-defendants, with the verdict poised to reshape France’s political and judicial landscape.
