Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will learn his fate today in a corruption trial that has gripped France and drawn global attention.
The 70-year-old, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, is accused of receiving millions of euros from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 presidential campaign. French prosecutors have demanded a seven-year prison sentence.
Sarkozy has been on trial since January, facing charges of concealing embezzlement of public funds, passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, and criminal conspiracy. Prosecutors allege that Libyan officials delivered cash-filled suitcases to Paris in support of his campaign.
Sarkozy has repeatedly denied the allegations, calling the case politically motivated. He is expected to appeal if found guilty, potentially delaying or overturning the verdict.
Despite his legal troubles—including the loss of France’s highest decoration, the Legion of Honor—Sarkozy remains an influential political figure. He has recently expressed support for the far-right National Rally (RN) led by Marine Le Pen, describing it as part of the “republican arc.”
The case has been described as one of the most complex political corruption scandals in modern France, involving alleged ties to Libyan spies, convicted terrorists, and international arms dealers.
