France’s highest court has upheld former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s conviction for illegal campaign financing, a decision that has revived renewed debate in Libya over long-standing allegations of illicit funding tied to the Gaddafi era.
The Cour de Cassation confirmed the one-year prison term issued against Sarkozy for overspending during his unsuccessful 2012 re-election campaign. Although half the sentence is suspended, the ruling represents another major setback for the former French leader, who only recently spent nearly three weeks in prison after a separate conviction linked to his 2007 electoral bid.
While the Paris ruling focuses on excess spending and hidden campaign costs, it has once again drawn attention to the broader Libya-related case, in which French investigators allege that aides sought illicit financial support from the regime of Muammar Gaddafi ahead of Sarkozy’s first presidential victory in 2007. Sarkozy denies all wrongdoing.
In Libya, the case has long been viewed as part of a wider international chapter involving foreign interference, corruption networks, and the misuse of Libyan state funds before the 2011 uprising. Analysts say the renewed attention in Paris underscores the ongoing need for transparency and accountability in cases involving Libya’s assets abroad.
Legal experts note that while Wednesday’s ruling did not address the Libya allegations directly, the broader investigation remains active and continues to shape international perceptions of Libya’s political history, particularly the role of the former regime in financing foreign political movements.
Sarkozy, still an influential figure in French conservative politics, has signalled plans to publish a book detailing his time in prison, a move expected to draw further scrutiny to the unresolved Libya-related claims.
For many Libyans, the renewed spotlight highlights long-standing demands for full disclosure regarding the fate of state funds during the Gaddafi era and the extent of foreign networks that benefited from them.