Sarkozy appeal against conspiracy conviction to begin in March

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives at his house after a Paris court granted him an early release from jail, pending an appeal, weeks after he started a five-year sentence for conspiring to raise campaign funds from Libya, in Paris, France, November 10, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman

PARIS (Reuters) -Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy's appeal against a conviction for criminal conspiracy related to illegal Libyan financing for his successful 2007 presidential bid will be heard from March 16 to June 3, a Paris appeal court said on Thursday.

Sarkozy walked out of jail this week after a court ruled he should not serve his prison sentence pending the appeal, contrary to the initial ruling. He will now seek to overturn the five-year sentence imposed in September.