Paris Court Frees Nicolas Sarkozy Three Weeks Into Five-Year Sentence

A Paris court released former French President Nicolas Sarkozy from prison three weeks into his five-year sentence for alleged Libyan campaign funding. He was placed under judicial supervision after calling his imprisonment a “nightmare.” Prosecutors supported his release, and his family attended the hearing.

A Paris appeals court on Monday ordered the release of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy from prison, placing him under judicial supervision just three weeks into his five-year sentence. Sarkozy, who left La Santé prison later that afternoon, described his time in jail as a “nightmare” during a hearing earlier in the day, where he appeared via video call wearing a dark blue jacket and surrounded by his lawyers.

The decision follows Sarkozy’s appeal against his conviction for criminal conspiracy in connection with alleged efforts to obtain campaign funding from Moammar Gadhafi’s Libya ahead of the 2007 French presidential election. Although the court did not conclude that Sarkozy received or used Libyan funds, it found him guilty of participating in the scheme.

Sarkozy, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, became the first former head of state from a European Union country to be imprisoned after entering La Santé prison on October 21. His legal team quickly requested his release, arguing that he posed no risk of interfering with the investigation. Prosecutor Damien Brunet supported the request, stating that the conditions justified release under judicial supervision.

The allegations, known as the “Libyan case,” first surfaced in 2011 when a Libyan news outlet claimed Gadhafi’s regime had financed Sarkozy’s 2007 campaign. The accusations gained credibility in 2016 after businessman Ziad Takieddine claimed he had personally delivered suitcases filled with cash from Libyan officials to the French Interior Ministry.

Sarkozy has previously been convicted in unrelated cases of corruption and influence peddling. During Monday’s hearing, he acknowledged the emotional toll of imprisonment but thanked prison staff for their professionalism and humanity. His wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and two of his sons attended the court session, expressing visible relief when the decision for his release was announced.