France’s highest court has rejected former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s appeal in the Bygmalion case, issuing a final ruling on his sentence for illegally financing his failed 2012 presidential campaign.
In February 2024, a lower court sentenced the former French president to one year in prison after investigators uncovered a massive double-billing system designed to hide soaring campaign costs (nearly 43 million euros spent, far above the legal limit of 22.5 million euros).
Much of the money for the rallies was transferred to his UMP party (now known as the Republican Party) through a fictitious party convention.
France’s Court of Cassation was not reviewing the entire case, but was examining whether the law and procedural rules were correctly applied during the trial.
In a statement sent to Euronews, the court said it considers the charge of illegal financing fully established. As a candidate, Sarkozy said he approved spending that exceeded the legal limit.
The court also recognized the involvement of his campaign manager and two senior UMP officials who were accused of knowingly participating in the scheme.
Sarkozy’s sentence is now considered final under French law, making further appeals impossible.
Despite the verdict, the former head of state will not go to prison but will be placed under partial house arrest or monitored with an electronic bracelet.
In a separate case, Mr. Sarkozy was found guilty in September of conspiracy in a long-running case that alleges he solicited illegal funding from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to secure his 2007 election victory.
A Paris court sentenced Sarkozy to five years in prison, a 100,000 euro fine and a five-year ban from holding public office.
He began serving his sentence at La Santé prison in Paris, but was released about three weeks later on November 10 after the Court of Appeal granted him release under judicial supervision.
