A French appeal court on Wednesday, February 14, reduced prison time for former president Nicolas Sarkozy after his conviction for illegal campaign financing during his 2012 re-election bid. A lower court had sentenced Sarkozy to one year in prison in the case, but the Paris court of appeal said he should only serve six months behind bars, with another six months suspended.
In the so-called "Bygmalion" case, Sarkozy, 69, was sentenced to one year in prison in 2021 on charges that his right-wing party, then known as the UMP, worked with a public relations firm to hide the true cost of his 2012 re-election bid. France sets strict limits on campaign spending. He became France's first post-World War II president to be sentenced to prison.
Sarkozy appealed the sentence, which the court at the time said should take the shape of electronically controlled house arrest rather than prison. The appeal trial began in November last year. Thirteen other people were also sentenced to terms of up to three and a half years in prison, partially suspended. Sarkozy was one of 10 defendants who appealed.
The former French president has "vigorously" denied any wrongdoing, accusing the firm, Bygmalion, of having enriched itself behind his back. Sarkozy has said he could never have imagined that "there was a system of false invoices." Prosecutors have said Sarkozy spent nearly 43 million euros on his 2012 campaign, almost double the permitted 22.5 million euros.
In 2025, Sarkozy will be tried over allegations he took money from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to illegally fund his victorious 2007 bid for the presidency. Despite his legal woes, the man who styled himself as the "hyper-president" while in office still enjoys considerable influence and popularity on the right of French politics.
Sarkozy has also maintained a relationship with President Emmanuel Macron and French media have said the pair have dined together on numerous occasions to talk politics. Sarkozy has also written books that have become major publishing events.
In his latest book, he said he would like his protégé and current Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin to succeed Macron as French president, noting his "evident qualities", although the minister has since indicated he may not run.