Nicolas Sarkozy: Former French President to be released from prison pending appeal

Paris court says former president Sarkozy will be released from prison under judicial supervision

Reuters

French court frees Sarkozy from jail pending appeal

A Paris appeals court ordered the release of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy from prison and placed him under judicial supervision on Monday, less than three weeks after <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/sarkozy-begins-prison-sentence-for-libya-campaign-scandal">he began serving a five-year sentence</a> for criminal conspiracy.

Daily Sabah

A Paris appeals court ordered the release of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy from prison and placed him under judicial supervision on Monday, less than three weeks after he began serving a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy.

Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, became the first former French head of state in modern times to be incarcerated after <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/sarkozy-gets-years-prison-in-libya-campaign-finance-case">his conviction on Sept. 25</a> for seeking campaign funds from Libya for his 2007 election.

The Times

Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, became the first former French head of state in modern times to be incarcerated after his conviction on Sept. 25 for seeking campaign funds from Libya for his 2007 election.

During Monday's hearing conducted via video conference from La Santé prison, the 70-year-old former president described his imprisonment as grueling and paid tribute to prison staff who helped him through what he called a nightmare.

New York Post

The Local France

During Monday's hearing conducted via video conference from La Santé prison, the 70-year-old former president described his imprisonment as grueling and paid tribute to prison staff who helped him through what he called a nightmare.

Prosecutor Damien Brunet recommended Sarkozy's release under judicial supervision, stating that he did not represent a flight risk, and the court agreed to impose restrictions, including a ban on leaving French territory.

Le Monde.fr

Newsmax

Prosecutor Damien Brunet recommended Sarkozy's release under judicial supervision, stating that he did not represent a flight risk, and the court agreed to impose restrictions, including a ban on leaving French territory.

Sarkozy maintained his innocence during the proceedings, telling the court he never asked Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for campaign financing and would never admit to something he did not do.

CBS News

France 24

Nicolas Sarkozy

Sarkozy maintained his innocence during the proceedings, telling the court he never asked Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for campaign financing and would never admit to something he did not do.

The former president faces additional legal proceedings, including a November ruling by France's highest court over illegal financing of his 2012 reelection bid and an ongoing investigation into alleged witness tampering.

The New York Times

Daily Mail

The former president faces additional legal proceedings, including a November ruling by France's highest court over illegal financing of his 2012 reelection bid and an ongoing investigation into alleged witness tampering.

CNN #0

NBC #0

Reuters #0

A Paris appeals court ordered the release of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy from prison and placed him under judicial supervision on Monday, less than three weeks after he began serving a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy.</span

Daily Sabah #

NBC #

Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, became the first former French head of state in modern times to be incarcerated after his conviction on September 25 for seeking campaign funds from Libya for his 2007 election.</span

CNN #

The Times #

Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, became the first former French head of state in modern times to be incarcerated after his conviction on September 25 for seeking campaign funds from Libya for his 2007 election.

During Monday's hearing conducted via video conference from La Santé prison, the 70-year-old former president described his imprisonment as grueling and paid tribute to prison staff who helped him through what he called a nightmare.</span

New York Post #

The Local France #

Prosecutor Damien Brunet recommended Sarkozy's release under judicial supervision, stating that he did not represent a flight risk, and the court agreed to impose restrictions including a ban on leaving French territory.</span

Le Monde.fr #

Reuters #

Prosecutor Damien Brunet recommended Sarkozy's release under judicial supervision, stating that he did not represent a flight risk, and the court agreed to impose restrictions including a ban on leaving French territory.

Sarkozy maintained his innocence during the proceedings, telling the court he never asked Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for campaign financing and would never admit to something he did not do.</span

CBS News #

France 24 #

The former president faces additional legal proceedings, including a November ruling by France's highest court over illegal financing of his 2012 reelection bid and an ongoing investigation into alleged witness tampering.</span

The New York Times #

Sarkozy's conviction represents justice finally catching up with corruption at the highest levels of French politics. The court found he used his position to prepare corruption schemes with Gadhafi's intelligence chief, a convicted terrorist mastermind behind deadly airline bombings.

Sarkozy's conviction represents justice finally catching up with corruption at the highest levels of French politics. The court found he used his position to prepare corruption schemes with Gadhafi's intelligence chief, a convicted terrorist mastermind behind deadly airline bombings.</span

The Associated Press

The Associated Press #5678

Why France’s ex-President Sarkozy may be released from prison after just 20 days

Sarkozy's imprisonment was a politically motivated nightmare driven by hate rather than justice. The court cleared him of corruption and illegal campaign financing charges, finding no evidence the alleged Libyan money was actually used in his campaign.

Sarkozy's imprisonment was a politically motivated nightmare driven by hate rather than justice. The court cleared him of corruption and illegal campaign financing charges, finding no evidence the alleged Libyan money was actually used in his campaign.</span

The Telegraph

The Telegraph #

Sarkozy Calls Prison A Nightmare As He Begins Appeal

Le JDD

Le JDD #

Nicolas Sarkozy libr sous contrle judiciaire jusqu' son procs en appel

Sarkozy Released from Prison After 3 Weeks Behind Bars

Crime & justice

France

Politics

Sarkozy's conviction shows that justice is finally catching up with corruption at the highest levels of French politics. However, his quick release from prison, where he had begun a five-year term for campaign-funding conspiracy, raises questions about equality before the law. Allowing a former president to serve virtually under house arrest while ordinary citizens remain locked up undermines public trust in justice.

Sarkozy's conviction shows that justice is finally catching up with corruption at the highest levels of French politics. However, his quick release from prison, where he had begun a five-year term for campaign-funding conspiracy, raises questions about equality before the law. Allowing a former president to serve virtually under house arrest while ordinary citizens remain locked up undermines public trust in justice.

Sarkozy's conviction appears to be a politically driven vendetta fueled by false evidence and retribution from Gaddafi loyalists angered over France’s part in the Libyan regime’s downfall. The court itself acknowledged no proof that Libyan funds ever reached his 2007 campaign. Such a severe sentence against a respected conservative figure damages France’s judicial integrity and global standing.

Sarkozy's conviction appears to be a politically driven vendetta fueled by false evidence and retribution from Gaddafi loyalists angered over France’s part in the Libyan regime’s downfall. The court itself acknowledged no proof that Libyan funds ever reached his 2007 campaign. Such a severe sentence against a respected conservative figure damages France’s judicial integrity and global standing.

France: Nicolas Sarkozy Released from Prison, Pending Appeal

France: Nicolas Sarkozy Released from Prison, AfterPending 3 Weeks Behind BarsAppeal

The Spin

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

France: Nicolas Sarkozy Released from Prison, Pending Appeal

France: Nicolas Sarkozy Released from Prison, AfterPending 3 Weeks Behind BarsAppeal

The Spin

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters