US EditionSarkozy jailing reignites debate over French political justice ahead of Le Pen appeal
Sarkozy becomes the first modern French president sentenced to prison for criminal conspiracy involving illegal campaign funds from Libya’s Gadafy regime, with a five-year term enforced immediately.
- On Thursday, Nicolas Sarkozy, former French president, was handed a five-year prison sentence by a Paris court and is expected to enter jail within months, with an October 13th meeting to set the date.
- Judges found that Sarkozy's conviction stemmed from criminal conspiracy by close aides to procure funds from Muammar Gadafy, former Libyan leader, for his 2007 presidential bid; Sarkozy denies wrongdoing.
- A court order required Nicolas Sarkozy to begin incarceration by appointment no later than February 13th, and the sentence is enforceable immediately during the appeal process under the special provision.
- The decision is unprecedented in modern French history, intensifying debate over judicial treatment of politicians, drawing criticism from Marine Le Pen, far-right leader of the National Rally, and prompting investigations after threats to the head judge.
- Observers call the sentence a turning point in France's graft fight, arriving coming months before Marine Le Pen seeks to overturn her conviction as Sarkozy appeals and aims to maintain influence.
25 Articles
25 Articles
In response to Nicolas Sarkozy's condemnation, the former Prime Minister, at the MoDem's re-entry university, considered that "we have the right to ask ourselves questions" about the risks of applying provisional execution in democracy.
The first president of the Paris Court of Appeal called "solicitedly", Saturday in a press release, to respect the judicial institution and deplored the "challenge" of the impartiality of justice after the condemnation of former head of state Nicolas Sarkozy in the so-called Libyan financing file. ...
The first President of the Paris Court of Appeal, Jacques Boulard, deplored the "challenge" of the impartiality of justice after the conviction of the former President in the so-called Libyan financing case.
Sarkozy Jailing Reignites Debate over French Political Justice ahead of Le Pen Appeal
Former President Nicolas Sarkozy's prison sentence has deepened divisions in France over judges' handling of political wrongdoing, months before far-right chief Marine Le Pen attempts to overturn an embezzlement conviction and run for top office. A Paris court jolted the political sphere on Thursday when it handed Sarkozy a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy over attempts to raise campaign funds from Libya. He will soon become the countr…
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