Sarkozy Found Guilty of Criminal Association in Libya Case

A Paris court has convicted former French President Nicolas Sarkozy of criminal association related to the alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from the regime of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The ruling, which came on March 15, 2024, found Sarkozy guilty of conspiring to secure financial support from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favors, although he was acquitted on three other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing.

The court proceedings revealed that Sarkozy, 70, had allowed his associates to engage with Libyan authorities to obtain financial backing for his campaign. The presiding judge indicated that, while the court could not definitively prove that Libyan money was used in Sarkozy’s campaign, the criminal association charge is significant, carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Sarkozy can appeal the verdict, which would pause any sentencing until after the appeal process.

Details of the Verdict

In addition to Sarkozy, the court also convicted two of his former ministers, Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux, of criminal association while acquitting them of some charges. The court’s verdict suggested that while the judges believed there was a conspiracy to secure Libyan funding for Sarkozy’s campaign, they were not fully convinced of his direct involvement in the financial arrangements.

During the lengthy reading of the verdict, the chief judge noted that the evidence pointed to a concerted effort to obtain funding but could not confirm that any illicit funds actually reached the campaign. Under French law, a corrupt scheme can still be considered criminal, even if no money was exchanged or if the transaction cannot be conclusively proven.

Background of Allegations

The allegations against Sarkozy date back to 2011 when a Libyan news agency claimed that the Gadhafi regime had funneled millions of euros into Sarkozy’s campaign. In 2012, the French investigative outlet Mediapart published a document purportedly outlining a 50 million euro funding agreement. Sarkozy dismissed the memo as a forgery and initiated a defamation lawsuit, which the court acknowledged as likely valid in its ruling.

Investigations also examined trips made by Sarkozy’s aides to Libya during his term as interior minister from 2005 to 2007. In a related case, Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine claimed he delivered cash from Libya to Sarkozy’s office but later retracted his statement. This reversal is now under investigation for potential witness tampering, with both Sarkozy and his wife, singer and model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, facing preliminary charges for allegedly trying to influence Takieddine.

The court proceedings unfolded as Sarkozy remained a significant figure in French right-wing politics, despite facing multiple legal challenges. He previously lost his bid for reelection in 2012 and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing throughout the trial, which involved multiple co-defendants, including former ministers.

Sarkozy’s legal troubles have not only impacted his political career but have also led to personal consequences. Earlier this year, he was stripped of France’s highest award, the Legion of Honor, after being convicted in a separate corruption case. He was sentenced to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet following that conviction, although he was granted conditional release in May.

The trial has shed light on the complexities of France’s relations with Libya during the Gadhafi era, a time when Sarkozy was one of the first Western leaders to advocate for military intervention in 2011. As the situation evolves, Sarkozy continues to assert that the allegations against him are politically motivated and part of a broader vendetta stemming from his actions as president.