Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives for the verdict in his trial with other defendants on charges of corruption and illegal financing of an election campaign related to alleged Libyan funding of his successful 2007 presidential bid, at the courthouse in Paris, France, September 25, 2025. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo
PARIS (Reuters) -The grubby backroom deals and "bling bling" reputation that many French people have come to associate with Nicolas Sarkozy during his 2007-2012 presidency came back to haunt him on Thursday, as he became the first leader of modern-day France to face jail for a criminal conviction.
The ruling marked a stunning downfall for Sarkozy, 70, who was sentenced to five years in prison over his aides' efforts to procure funds for his 2007 presidential bid from Libya during the rule of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi. After the ruling, Sarkozy reiterated his innocence, saying his conviction undermined faith in France's judiciary.
