Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to stand trial on Monday over allegations that he received millions of euros in illegal campaign financing from Libya’s late leader, Muammar Gaddafi, for his 2007 presidential campaign.
Sarkozy, who has consistently denied the accusations, faces charges including “concealment of embezzlement of public funds, passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, and criminal conspiracy.”
The trial, expected to last three months, could further damage public trust in France’s political establishment. Investigators claim that Sarkozy struck a corrupt pact with the Libyan government, involving Libyan spies, convicted terrorists, arms dealers, and allegations of suitcases filled with cash being delivered to Paris.
Sarkozy’s lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, dismissed the case as a fabrication, insisting that after a decade of investigation, authorities have found no evidence of transfers, payments, or financial traces to support the accusations.
If convicted, Sarkozy faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of €375,000 ($386,000).
This trial adds to Sarkozy’s mounting legal troubles, including a 2023 corruption conviction where he avoided jail time but was ordered to wear an electronic bracelet—a first for a former French head of state.
