PARIS — France’s highest judicial authority has confirmed the ruling of an appellate court that found former President Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of corruption and influence peddling during his tenure as the nation’s leader.
At 69 years of age, Sarkozy now faces a potential one-year prison sentence, though he is anticipated to request home confinement with an electronic monitoring device, as such measures are standard for sentences that are two years or shorter.
This conviction stems from a 2021 ruling by a Paris court and was upheld in 2023 by the appeals court. Sarkozy was accused of attempting to bribe a judge in return for information linked to a legal matter in which he was involved.
According to a statement made by the Court of Cassation, “The convictions and sentences are therefore final.”
Sarkozy, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, retreated from public office in 2017 but still remains a significant figure within the French conservative political sphere. He was present at the recent reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral earlier this month.
In a message shared on X, Sarkozy stated, “I will assume my responsibilities and face all the consequences.” He emphasized, “I have no intention of complaining. But I am not prepared to accept the profound injustice done to me.” Additionally, he expressed his intention to bring the case to the European Court of Human Rights, aiming for a ruling that condemns France.
Sarkozy has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. “My determination is total in this case as in all others,” he asserted.
His attorney, Patrice Spinosi, confirmed that his client intends to comply with the court’s ruling, which will indeed require Sarkozy to wear an electronic bracelet.
This landmark case marks the first occasion in modern French history that a former president has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for actions undertaken while in office. Sarkozy’s predecessor, Jacques Chirac, had received a two-year suspended sentence for his misuse of public funds during his time as mayor of Paris in 2011.
In addition to this case, Sarkozy is entangled in various other legal matters, consistently denying any wrongdoing. He faces further judicial scrutiny next month in Paris over allegations that he accepted millions from the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to unlawfully fund his 2007 presidential campaign.
The corruption case central to this ruling is rooted in conversations that occurred in February 2014. At that time, judges were investigating the financing of Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign and uncovered communications between him and his lawyer, Thierry Herzog, via secret mobile phones linked to an alias, “Paul Bismuth.”
Prosecutors became suspicious of Sarkozy and Herzog after wiretapped calls suggested they might have offered magistrate Gilbert Azibert a job in Monaco in return for sensitive information about another legal investigation involving Sarkozy. Although Azibert did not secure the position and the legal inquiry tied to that case was ultimately dropped, prosecutors determined that the actions still constituted corruption under French law, irrespective of whether the promise was fulfilled. Sarkozy has strongly refuted any malicious intent in his offer to assist Azibert.
Both Herzog and Azibert were also convicted in connection with the case.