PARIS — Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been released from prison after a court approved his request to remain free while he appeals his conviction for conspiring to secure illegal campaign funds from Libya.
The 70-year-old politician was seen leaving La Santé Prison in Paris on Monday in a black car with tinted windows, heading toward his home in the western part of the city.
His release marks a significant development in a case that has gripped France’s political and judicial circles for years.
Court grants conditional release
Sarkozy’s legal team argued successfully for his provisional freedom pending appeal, just weeks after he was sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy.
According to the court, his release is subject to strict conditions he is barred from leaving France and prohibited from contacting co-defendants or witnesses involved in the ongoing case.
The former leader joined the hearing via videolink from prison, insisting he had always respected judicial orders.
“I had never imagined I would experience prison at 70,” he told the court. “This ordeal was imposed on me, and I lived through it. It’s hard, very hard.”
Appeal expected next year
An appeals trial is expected to begin in the spring of 2026, giving Sarkozy another chance to challenge the verdict that made him the first former French head of state to be jailed since Marshal Philippe Pétain, who was convicted of collaboration after the Second World War.
Sarkozy has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, describing the prosecution as politically motivated.
His defence maintains that the allegations are based on unreliable testimony and unverified financial claims dating back to his 2007 campaign.
Security fears and death threats
Reports in the French media revealed that Sarkozy faced death threats in prison within 24 hours of beginning his sentence.
Authorities reportedly assigned two permanent police officers to guard him, housed in nearby cells, to ensure his safety during incarceration.
The heightened security arrangements underscored concerns over the risks faced by a former president in the general prison population.
Background to the conviction
Sarkozy was found guilty in September 2025 of criminal conspiracy linked to claims that his 2007 presidential campaign received illegal funding from Libya under the regime of the late Muammar Gaddafi.
Prosecutors alleged that millions of euros in cash were channelled to Sarkozy’s campaign in exchange for political favours. The former leader has always denied the accusations, calling them “an insult to France’s democracy.”
A rare moment in French politics
The conviction and subsequent imprisonment of a former French president have been viewed as a landmark moment in French legal history, raising questions about political accountability and the independence of the judiciary.
While Sarkozy’s supporters maintain that he has been unfairly targeted, his critics argue that the case reflects long-standing concerns over corruption and opaque campaign financing in French politics.
What happens next
With the appeal now pending, Sarkozy’s lawyers say they will present new evidence and call for a full review of the trial process.
If the conviction is upheld, he could still face further prison time though his age and past cooperation with authorities may influence any final sentencing decision.
Until then, Sarkozy remains under judicial supervision and cannot travel abroad or engage publicly with witnesses linked to the case.
M10News Europe Desk | Contact: europe@m10news.com
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