French prosecutors seek seven-year sentence for Sarkozy in Libya funding case

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Paris: French prosecutors on Wednesday asked for former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to be sentenced to seven years in jail for allegedly receiving illegal funding from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime during his 2007 presidential campaign. They expressed the matter during his appeal hearing.

Prosecutors also demanded a €300,000 ($335,000) fine and a five-year ban on Sarkozy occupying public office.
Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in jail after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in the Libya campaign financing case in 2025. Corruption, unlawful campaign finance, and concealing embezzled Libyan government funds are among the other allegations on which prosecutors are currently seeking convictions.
Prosecutors portrayed Sarkozy as the "main beneficiary" and "instigator" of an alleged corruption deal with the Libyan government during hearings in Paris. Sarkozy has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that his campaign used "not a single cent of Libyan money."

The issue revolves around claims that, in exchange for re-establishing diplomatic relations with Gaddafi's government, Libyan authorities deliberately transferred millions of euros to help Sarkozy's victorious 2007 presidential campaign.

A verdict in the appeal trial is expected later this year.