Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has begun serving a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his 2007 election campaign with illicit funds from Libya, marking the first incarceration of a former French leader in modern history. The 70-year-old arrived at the notorious La Santé prison in Paris on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, hand-in-hand with his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and declared on social media that “an innocent man” was being locked up, vowing to fight the conviction.
Sarkozy’s journey to prison captivated France, as he waved to hundreds of supporters chanting his name and singing the French anthem outside his home in an upscale Paris neighborhood. His children and grandchildren gathered to see him off, with some holding signs expressing solidarity, while onlookers like 67-year-old Michelle Perié voiced anger over what they perceived as injustice against a former head of state. The scene underscored the deep divisions in French society over the case, with Sarkozy’s lawyers emphasizing his determination to prove his innocence despite the humiliating blow.
The conviction stems from a September 25, 2025, ruling by a Paris criminal court, which found Sarkozy guilty of criminal conspiracy for allowing close aides to seek millions of euros from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime to fund his 2007 presidential bid. Prosecutors alleged that in exchange, Sarkozy promised to help rehabilitate Gaddafi’s pariah status in the West, though the court acquitted him of other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing, citing insufficient evidence. He was also ordered to pay a €100,000 fine, but the judge ruled he must serve time immediately due to the seriousness of the offense, bypassing the usual wait for an appeal.
Sarkozy has consistently denied any wrongdoing, calling the verdict “extremely serious for rule of law” and politically motivated, and his legal team has filed an appeal while he remains behind bars. In interviews before entering prison, he stated, “I’m not afraid of prison. I’ll hold my head high,” and revealed plans to bring books like Alexandre Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo” for solace. His lawyers, including Christophe Ingrain, noted that Sarkozy is held in solitary confinement for security reasons and is mentally prepared for the isolation, with a request for release pending that could take up to two months to process.
The case dates back to 2013, following accusations from Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi’s son, and Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, who claimed to have evidence of €50 million in payments from Libya that continued after Sarkozy’s presidency. Other figures involved, such as former interior ministers Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux, were also convicted on related charges, highlighting the breadth of the conspiracy. Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, faces separate charges of hiding evidence and fraud in connection to the case, which she denies, adding to the legal turmoil surrounding the family.
This conviction is not Sarkozy’s first legal setback; in 2021, he was found guilty of attempting to bribe a judge and received a suspended sentence, and in 2024, he was convicted for overspending on his 2012 campaign. The cumulative cases have tarnished his legacy and raised questions about corruption in French politics, with current President Emmanuel Macron acknowledging the independence of the judiciary but meeting Sarkozy last week in a show of human solidarity. Public reaction remains split, with supporters decrying the imprisonment as unfair while others see it as a necessary step for accountability.
Looking ahead, Sarkozy’s appeal process will unfold over coming months, with his lawyers arguing that the incarceration pending appeal is unusual and unjust. If the appeal fails, he could serve the full term, though legal experts suggest a potential reduction or alternative arrangements given his age and status. The outcome may influence future cases involving high-profile figures in France, reinforcing the judiciary’s role in upholding integrity in political financing and setting a precedent for accountability among former leaders.