Former French President Sarkozy given five-year prison sentence in illegal financing case

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Former French President Sarkozy given five-year prison sentence in illegal financing case  After an extended detailing of its ruling on Thursday, the court sentenced Sarkozy to five years in prison "with deferred effect", an immediate five-year ban on any public function, and a fine of €100,000.   READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/09/25/former-french-president-sarkozy-found-guilty-of-criminal-conspiracy-in-illegal-financing-c  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:00It's a truly historic and shocking decision.

00:03A Paris court sentenced former President Nicolas Sarkozy this Thursday to five years in prison

00:10for criminal conspiracy in an alleged scheme to finance his 2007 presidential election campaign

00:19using Libyan money in exchange for diplomatic favours.

00:24However, the former French president was acquitted of the other three charges.

00:30But what's really striking about this Thursday's decision is that the judge requested for a deferred detention order with immediate effect.

00:39This means that Nicolas Sarkozy will be summoned on October 13 to find out about the date and conditions of his incarceration,

00:49which cannot be avoided even if he appeals.

00:53His imprisonment would be a first in French modern political history.

00:58But at 70 years old, however, the former French president could request a conditional release.

01:05Here are some of his first words after he found out about the sentencing.

01:10I ask the French to vote or not for me, to support me or not, to appreciate what just happened.

01:24The court also imposed a final decision.

01:54A five-year ban from holding public office as well as a 100,000 euro fine.

02:00The judge said that they could not prove that Libyan money ultimately funded Sarkozy's 2007 campaign,

02:09but emphasised that conspiring to commit corruption is a crime in itself under French law.

02:15Sarkozy said that he plans to appeal this decision.

02:20This verdict adds to Sarkozy's growing legal troubles.

02:24He has already been convicted in two other cases.

02:28The Big Malian affair for his 2012 illegal presidential campaign financing,

02:34as well as the so-called abysmuth case involving corruption and influence peddling.

02:40Sofia Katzenkova reporting from Paris for Euronews.

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