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.
00:29But 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 if they vote or not for me, if they support me or not, to appreciate what just happened.
01:24The court also imposed a final decision.
01:54Sarkozy said that Sarkozy said that Sarkozy said that he plans to appeal this decision.
02:07This verdict adds to Sarkozy's growing legal troubles.
02:24He has already been convicted in two other cases, the 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 Katsenkova reporting from Paris for Euronews.
Kommentare