France’s highest court upheld former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s conviction for illegal campaign financing on Wednesday, closing off his final appeal in the case. The ruling confirms a one-year prison sentence for overspending during his failed 2012 re-election bid.
Six months of the sentence were suspended and can be served through alternatives such as an electronic bracelet instead of prison time.
Sarkozy, who is 70, had challenged the 2024 verdict but the Cour de Cassation said the lower court was right to convict him.
The decision adds to a series of legal problems for the one-term leader, who served as president from 2007 to 2012.
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Prison time served
Wednesday’s ruling comes shortly after Sarkozy spent 20 days in prison in a separate case linked to his 2007 campaign. He was released on 10 November under judicial supervision while appealing that conviction.
In that earlier trial, judges found he had allowed aides to seek money for his 2007 run from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. He later announced he would publish a book about his experience of serving time in jail.
In another case, he exhausted his final appeal in December 2024 after being convicted of trying to extract favours from a judge. He served that sentence while wearing an electronic ankle tag, which was removed in May after several months.
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Overspending accusations
The case reviewed on Wednesday focused on accusations that Sarkozy’s right-wing party worked with the public relations firm Bygmalion to hide the cost of his 2012 campaign.
Prosecutors said he spent nearly €43 million on the campaign, almost double the permitted €22.5 million.
Sarkozy was not accused of taking part in the alleged double-billing system but was held responsible as the candidate who benefited from illegal financing. He has denied any criminal responsibility in the case.
He has also called the allegations lies.
A lower appeals court confirmed the conviction in February 2023. The Cour de Cassation had the option to order a retrial but ruled that the appeal was not valid.
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Political weight
Despite the legal setbacks, Sarkozy remains influential on the right. President Emmanuel Macron received him before his recent prison stay and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, a former protege, visited him in Paris’s La Santé jail.
A court later barred Sarkozy from meeting ministers or other officials as a condition for his release.
Two weeks after leaving prison, he said he would publish a book next month about his three-week experience behind bars.
(with newswires)
