France’s highest court, the Cour de Cassation, has upheld former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2021 conviction for corruption and influence peddling, solidifying the landmark ruling against the conservative leader.
Sarkozy had been handed a three-year sentence, with two years suspended and the remaining year to be served under electronic monitoring instead of prison. Despite the ruling, his lawyer, Patrice Spinosi, announced plans to challenge the decision at the European Court of Human Rights, asserting Sarkozy’s continued efforts to prove his innocence.
“Sarkozy will comply with the court’s decision but will exhaust every legal avenue to clear his name,” Spinosi said.
The conviction stems from Sarkozy’s attempts to bribe a judge, Gilbert Azibert, in exchange for confidential information about an investigation into his 2007 presidential campaign finances. Azibert was also convicted of corruption and influence peddling.
The court found that Sarkozy conspired to secure a prestigious job in Monaco for Azibert in exchange for the insider information. The scandal marked a significant blow to Sarkozy, who remains a prominent figure in French politics despite leaving office in 2012.
Sarkozy is also set to face trial next year over allegations of illegal Libyan funding for his 2007 presidential campaign. If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison. Sarkozy has denied all allegations.
This conviction makes Sarkozy the second modern French president to be found guilty of corruption, following his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, who was convicted in 2011 after leaving office.