France’s former president Nicolas Sarkozy is currently on trial for allegedly receiving millions from Libya’s former dictator Moammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 presidential campaign.
Sarkozy, who served as president of France from 2007 to 2012, appeared in court in Paris to face what is considered his biggest scandal yet.
Facing charges of passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, embezzlement of public funds, and criminal association, Sarkozy could potentially face up to 10 years in prison. The 69-year-old, married to former supermodel Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, has denied any wrongdoing.
Sarkozy (R) and Gaddafi. File Pic: Reuters
Sarkozy’s lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, stated that Sarkozy is approaching the hearings with determination. The statement insists, “There is no Libyan financing of the campaign. We hope that the court will objectively examine the facts, free from any biased theories that have clouded the investigation.”
Anti-corruption groups Sherpa, Anticor, and Transparency International have also joined the proceedings, emphasizing the importance of addressing corruption victims in the trial.
There are 11 other defendants involved in the trial, including three former ministers. Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, accused of being an intermediary, has fled to Lebanon and did not appear in court.
‘It’s thanks to us he’s president’
The case came to light in March 2011 when a Libyan news agency reported that Gaddafi’s regime had funded Sarkozy’s campaign. In an interview, Gaddafi claimed, “it’s thanks to us that he reached the presidency. We provided him with the funds that allowed him to win,” without specifying an amount or other details.
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Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for four decades, was killed during the Arab Spring protests in 2011. The following year, Mediapart published a document purported to be from the Libyan secret services, mentioning a €50m agreement between Gaddafi and Sarkozy’s campaign.
Sarkozy vehemently denied the accusations, calling the document a fake and filing complaints. However, in 2016, French magistrates concluded that the document appeared authentic, though no definitive evidence of the transaction was found. The official cost of Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign was €20m.
Sarkozy convicted in two other cases
In a separate case, the Court of Cassation upheld a conviction against Sarkozy for corruption and influence peddling, resulting in a one-year house arrest sentence. Additionally, in 2021, Sarkozy was found guilty of illegal campaign financing in his 2012 re-election bid.