Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be released from prison and placed under judicial supervision, according to a ruling by a Paris appeals court on October 30, 2023. This decision comes less than three weeks after Sarkozy began serving a five-year sentence related to a scheme to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya.
Sarkozy, aged 70, is expected to leave La Santé prison in the afternoon. As part of the judicial supervision, he is prohibited from leaving French territory and from communicating with key individuals, including co-defendants and witnesses connected to his case. An appeals trial is anticipated to take place later, potentially in the spring of 2024.
This marks a historic moment, as Sarkozy became the first former French head of state in modern history to be incarcerated following his conviction on September 25, 2023. He maintains his innocence regarding the charges. Following his imprisonment on October 21, he promptly filed for early release.
During the appeals hearing, Sarkozy participated via video conference from prison, asserting that he has consistently complied with all judicial requirements. “I had never imagined I would experience prison at 70. This ordeal was imposed on me, and I lived through it. It’s hard, very hard,” he stated. He also expressed gratitude to the prison staff for their support during what he described as “this nightmare.”
Sarkozy’s wife, former supermodel and singer Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, along with two of their sons, were present at the Paris courthouse for the hearing. Although the proceedings did not delve into the motivations behind the sentencing, Sarkozy reiterated his claim that he never solicited financial support from Libya’s longtime leader, Moammar Gadhafi. “I will never admit something I didn’t do,” he emphasized.
Under French law, release pending appeal is the norm, with detention being the exception. Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, faces additional legal challenges, including an upcoming ruling on November 26, 2023, by France’s highest court concerning illegal financing related to his unsuccessful 2012 reelection bid, as well as an ongoing investigation into alleged witness tampering linked to the Libya case.
In 2023, he was convicted of corruption and influence peddling for attempting to bribe a magistrate in return for information connected to a legal case involving himself. The Court of Cassation, France’s highest court, subsequently upheld this verdict, further complicating Sarkozy’s legal circumstances.
As he prepares to navigate this next chapter under judicial supervision, Sarkozy’s political future remains uncertain amidst the ongoing scrutiny of his past actions.
