Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy Found Guilty of Criminal Conspiracy

What Happened?

Former French President Nicholas Sarkozy was convicted by a Paris court on charges of criminal conspiracy and sentenced to five years in prison. While Mr. Sarkozy was cleared of corruption charges, he was found guilty of being engaged in a criminal conspiracy to illegally accept campaign contributions from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. 

Mr. Sarkozy has indicated he plans to appeal the ruling, but even with the appeal, it is likely he will serve time in prison for his conviction. The conviction will likely further roil French politics, which is already in considerable turmoil after the recent resignation of the prime minister. 

Why it Matters

Mr. Sarkozy is now the second French President to be convicted after leaving office. In 2011, Jacques Chirac was convicted of corruption charges but given a suspended sentence due to his advanced age and poor health. Mr. Sarkozy is much younger than Chirac was when he was convicted and will likely face jail time regardless of the outcome of his appeal. 

French politics is already experiencing a period of upheaval due to the recent resignation of the prime minister, who was unable to get any support in France’s national parliament for his proposed budget-cutting measures. France’s current President Macron called for snap elections last year, but instead of resulting in a clear majority, the outcome only left the French parliament further divided and polarized. 

The specifics of Mr. Sarkozy’s conviction center on a complicated scheme to funnel money from former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi into his campaign coffers. While Mr. Sarkozy did not directly engage in these activities, the judge in the case ruled he did give his staff specific orders to secretly facilitate the transfer of illegal funds to his own election campaign. Under French law, Mr. Sarkozy can appeal the ruling, but during the appeal process, the conviction stands, including the imposition of the prison sentence. 

Mr. Sarkozy’s conviction follows recent legal trouble for other world leaders. The former President of South Korea was removed from office and charged with corruption, and the Prime Minister of Thailand was recently removed from office by Thailand’s Constitutional Court. In the case of Mr. Sarkozy, his conviction will likely be seen as a warning to current French President Macron, who has himself been frequently accused of engaging in official corruption.

How it Affects You

The conviction of Mr. Sarkozy will almost certainly be seized as a campaign issue by almost everyone. France’s bloated budget and soaring debt have long been blamed not only on poor fiscal management but also on widespread internal corruption. New snap elections could be called for this year, and if they are, the role of corruption will likely be central to the campaign.