Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has forcefully rejected accusations of receiving illegal campaign funding from Muammar Gaddafi. Prosecutors allege that Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign was financed by Libya’s late dictator, amounting to millions of euros in illegal funding.
Sarkozy faces multiple charges, including passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, embezzlement concealment, and criminal association, carrying potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
Sarkozy Denies Allegations, Calls Case a “Plot”
During the trial, Sarkozy declared: “You will never find one Libyan euro or cent in my campaign.” He accused “groups of liars and crooks,” including the “Gaddafi clan,” of fabricating the allegations as part of a “plot.” The trial is scheduled to continue until April 10.
The case first emerged in March 2011 when Libyan media reported that Gaddafi’s government financed Sarkozy’s campaign. Sarkozy, an early advocate for military intervention in Libya in 2011, argued that the accusations followed his statement calling for Gaddafi’s removal.
Disputed Evidence and Trial Developments
Sarkozy contested the authenticity of a document allegedly from Libya’s secret services, stating it falsely referenced Gaddafi agreeing to fund his campaign with €50 million. While French investigators in 2016 deemed the document potentially authentic, definitive proof of such transactions remains absent.
“I want you to feel my indignation, sincerity, and anger,” Sarkozy told the court. “There is no corruption money because no corruption occurred.”
French investigators also scrutinized trips to Libya made by Sarkozy’s associates, including his chief of staff Claude Guéant, between 2005 and 2007. Sarkozy highlighted a 2007 diplomatic achievement shortly after his election, negotiating the release of Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor sentenced to death in Libya.
The release led to cooperation agreements between France and Libya in defence, health, and counterterrorism. Sarkozy used this instance to counter allegations of corrupt dealings.
Other Defendants and Sarkozy’s Legal Challenges
The trial involves 11 additional defendants, including three former ministers. Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, accused of acting as an intermediary, has fled to Lebanon and did not appear in court.
Another co-defendant, Gaddafi’s ex-chief of staff Bashir Saleh, was also absent. Saleh, who initially sought refuge in France, now resides in the UAE after stints in South Africa.
Sarkozy’s legal troubles extend beyond the Gaddafi case. France’s Court of Cassation recently upheld his conviction for corruption and influence peddling during his presidency, sentencing him to house arrest with an electronic bracelet.
Additionally, in February last year, Sarkozy was found guilty of illegal campaign financing in his unsuccessful 2012 re-election bid. Investigators discovered these violations during wiretapped phone conversations linked to the Libya inquiry.
While Sarkozy has faced prior convictions, the Gaddafi funding case poses the greatest threat to his political legacy.