https://www.scmp.com/rss/523471/feed The latest news and top stories on Nicolas Sarkozy. Known for his energetic style, he served as President of France from 2007 to 2012, following a distinguished career including roles as Mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine and various ministerial positions like Interior and Finance. His presidency focused on economic reform, national identity and foreign policy, notably addressing the 2008 financial crisis, initiating university and pension reforms and strengthening Franco-American relations. His work... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Associated Press Associated Press French former president Nicolas Sarkozy maintained his innocence on Tuesday, telling an appeal hearing in Paris that not a single cent from Libya helped fund his 2007 presidential campaign. “I owe the truth to the French people,” Sarkozy told a three-judge panel during a hearing in the case that led him to spend 20 days in prison before being granted release pending appeal. “I’m innocent,” he said. Sarkozy, 71, is challenging his conviction after being found guilty in September of criminal... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349294/france-ex-president-sarkozy-challenges-conviction-over-alleged-libya-funding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3349294/france-ex-president-sarkozy-challenges-conviction-over-alleged-libya-funding?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:14:24 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press France’s top court on Wednesday upheld Nicolas Sarkozy’s conviction for illegal campaign financing of his re-election bid in 2012 in another blow to France’s former president’s legacy and reputation. The decision by the Court of Cassation makes definitive Sarkozy’s conviction to a year in prison, half of it suspended, for fraudulently overspending on the failed campaign. Under French law, the sentence can be served at home, monitored with an electronic bracelet or other requirements set by a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3334272/ex-french-president-sarkozys-2012-campaign-finance-conviction-upheld?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3334272/ex-french-president-sarkozys-2012-campaign-finance-conviction-upheld?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:04:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters A Paris court granted former French president Nicolas Sarkozy early release from jail on Monday, pending an appeal, just weeks after he started a five-year sentence for conspiring to raise campaign funds from Libya. The former conservative president, 70, was jailed on October 21 after a court found him guilty in September of criminal conspiracy over efforts by close aides to procure funds for his 2007 presidential bid from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. He was acquitted of all other... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3332241/french-ex-president-sarkozy-released-prison-pending-appeal-after-libya-funding-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3332241/french-ex-president-sarkozy-released-prison-pending-appeal-after-libya-funding-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 13:15:23 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse France’s ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy became the first former head of an EU state to be jailed Tuesday, proclaiming his innocence as he entered a Paris prison. France’s right-wing leader from 2007 to 2012 was found guilty last month of seeking to acquire funding from Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya for the campaign that saw him elected. The 70-year-old - who has appealed the verdict - left his home, and after a short drive flanked by police on motorbikes, entered the La Sante prison in the French... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3329795/kiss-then-goodbye-frances-ex-president-sarkozy-enters-jail-proclaiming-innocence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3329795/kiss-then-goodbye-frances-ex-president-sarkozy-enters-jail-proclaiming-innocence?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 08:54:12 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Nicolas Sarkozy is next week set to become the first former French president in the modern era to go to jail, following his conviction for taking part in a criminal conspiracy to seek covert funding from Libya’s late dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He was told on Monday by prosecutors that he would be incarcerated on October 21, according to BFM TV, which added that the former president would be held in the Paris prison of La Santé. The date was confirmed by a person familiar with the matter who spoke... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3328910/sarkozy-set-become-frances-first-ever-jailed-ex-president?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3328910/sarkozy-set-become-frances-first-ever-jailed-ex-president?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 05:09:05 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The date for Nicolas Sarkozy’s imprisonment will be set on Monday, after the former French president was sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his winning 2007 campaign with funds from Libya. Sarkozy, 70, says he is innocent. He denounced the verdict as “a scandal” and filed an appeal. He is the first former president of modern France sentenced to actual time behind bars. Sarkozy, who was involved in several other legal cases, was France’s president... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3328731/french-ex-president-sarkozy-will-serve-prison-time-despite-appeal-libya-funding-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3328731/french-ex-president-sarkozy-will-serve-prison-time-despite-appeal-libya-funding-case?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Oct 2025 20:38:56 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A Paris court on Thursday sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison after finding him guilty of criminal conspiracy in an alleged scheme to finance his 2007 campaign with funds from Libya. In a surprise decision, the court ruled that he will be incarcerated even if he appeals. But it also said the sentencing date would take place at a later time, sparing the 70-year-old the humiliation of being led from the courtroom in handcuffs. The court found Sarkozy guilty of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3326836/frances-ex-president-sarkozy-convicted-criminal-conspiracy-gaddafi-funding-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3326836/frances-ex-president-sarkozy-convicted-criminal-conspiracy-gaddafi-funding-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:01:17 +0000