French prosecutors have requested a seven-year prison sentence and a $330,000 fine for former President Nicolas Sarkozy during his appeal in the Libya corruption case.
The 71-year-old leader stands accused of accepting secret campaign funds from the late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi to secure his 2007 presidential victory.
In 2025, Sarkozy became the first modern French president to serve prison time, though he was released under supervision after just 20 days.
Prosecutors are now pushing to revive charges of corruption and embezzlement that were previously dismissed, seeking to label Sarkozy as the scheme’s primary instigator.
The case alleges that a foreign dictatorship funneled millions into a democratic election, carrying immense political weight and threatening Sarkozy’s historical legacy.
Sarkozy’s legal team maintains his innocence, arguing that no Libyan funds ever entered his estate or campaign coffers despite years of investigation.
The prosecution has also called for a five-year ban on Sarkozy holding public office, effectively ending any potential return to the political stage.
Several members of his former inner circle, including top ministers and campaign officials, are simultaneously facing significant prison time and multi-million dollar fines.
Central to the allegations are secret meetings involving high-ranking Libyan intelligence officials, including those previously convicted for the 1989 bombing of UTA Flight 772.
Sarkozy has dismissed the narrative as illogical, questioning why he would strike a suspicious deal with a foreign leader he had never met.
The appeal proceedings will continue through early June, with a final verdict from the panel of three judges expected on November 30.