Former French President Sarkozy Released From Prison Pending Appeal

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was released from a Paris prison on Nov. 10 after a Paris court ruled that he could be released while he appeals against his conviction for conspiring to raise funds from Libya.

Sarkozy, 70, left La Santé prison less than three weeks into a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy in connection with alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign.

He is prohibited from leaving French territory and from contacting several individuals tied to the case, including co-defendants and witnesses, according to the court.

Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, was jailed on Oct. 21 following his conviction on Sept. 25, becoming the first former French head of state in modern times to serve time behind bars. He has denied any wrongdoing and immediately sought early release after being detained.

Chief Judge Nathalie Gavarino told Sarkozy at the court hearing on Sept. 25 that he sought an advantage in his 2007 presidential campaign and planned to carry out “an act of corruption at the highest possible level” if elected.

While the Nov. 10 hearing did not revisit the substance of his conviction, Sarkozy again rejected allegations that his campaign received money from the late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

“I will never admit something I didn’t do,” he said as he attended the hearing via videolink from prison.

In his address to the court, Sarkozy thanked the prison staff who, he said, had helped him through “this nightmare.” Sarkozy’s wife, singer and former model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and two of his sons were present in the courtroom for the hearing.

Following the court’s decision, Sarkozy’s youngest son, Louis, posted a childhood photo of himself with his father on social media, writing “Vive la liberté,” which translates to “Long live freedom.”

Under French law, pre-trial or pre-appeal detention is considered an exception, with release pending appeal treated as the norm. Sarkozy’s lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, described the decision as a straightforward application of legal principles.

“The next step is the appeal trial, and our work now … is to get prepared for that,” he said.

Sarkozy’s appeal trial is expected to take place next year, possibly in the spring.

“I had never imagined I would experience prison at 70,” Sarkozy told the court. “This ordeal was imposed on me, and I lived through it. It’s hard, very hard.”

The appeals court also ordered Sarkozy not to contact French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin.

Darmanin, who began his political career under Sarkozy and later joined President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party, visited the former leader in prison last month.

The visit drew sharp criticism from magistrates who said it risked undermining judicial independence.

Last year, France’s highest court upheld a conviction for corruption and influence peddling, ordering him to wear an electronic tag for a year, a first for a former French head of state. The tag has now been removed.

Also last year, an appeals court upheld a separate conviction for illegal campaign financing over his failed 2012 reelection bid. A final ruling from France’s highest court is expected in that case this month.

Sarkozy is also under formal investigation in another case, accused of being an accessory to witness tampering.

Reuters contributed to this report.