PARIS: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy appeared at the Paris Court of Appeal on Friday to appeal a one-year jail sentence for illegal campaign financing, vehemently denying any wrongdoing and expressing his determination to prove his innocence.
Sarkozy, who served as the French president from 2007 to 2012, has been entangled in a series of legal challenges, facing charges ranging from corruption and bribery to influence-peddling. The current appeal pertains to the “Bygmalion affair,” where he was sentenced to one year in prison in September 2021. The charges accused his right-wing party, then known as the UMP, of collaborating with a public relations firm to conceal the actual cost of his 2012 re-election bid.
Standing before the court, the 68-year-old asserted, “I vigorously deny any criminal responsibility,” emphasizing that he had no knowledge of, involvement in, or benefit from fraudulent activities related to his campaign financing. The trial, which commenced on November 8, is a continuation of the legal challenges Sarkozy has faced since leaving office.
Allegations Against Nicolas Sarkozy
Prosecutors alleged that Sarkozy exceeded the permitted campaign expenditure by nearly double, spending close to 43 million euros on his 2012 campaign, which had a limit of 22.5 million euros.
“If I did not ask for anything, if I did not know about it, where is the intentional offence?” Sarkozy questioned assertively during the proceedings. He expressed a strong desire for truth and maintained his innocence throughout.
This legal battle is not the only one Sarkozy is confronting; in October, he was charged in a separate case involving witness tampering related to alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential win.
Despite these legal challenges, Sarkozy remains a prominent and influential figure in French politics, with a significant presence on the French right. He continues to be courted by politicians, and his books are major publishing events.
In his most recent publication, Sarkozy expressed his preference for his protege, current Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, to succeed Emmanuel Macron as the French president, citing Darmanin’s “evident qualities.” Despite the legal controversies, Sarkozy maintains political relevance, and reports suggest ongoing interactions with current President Macron, indicating a continued involvement in political discussions.
