NICOLAS Sarkozy, former president of France, is facing trial over claims that his 2007 presidential campaign was funded illegally by Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi. The trial, which began this week in Paris, has the potential to severely impact Sarkozy’s legacy.
Sarkozy, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, is charged with passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, and criminal association, which could result in up to 10 years in prison. He has strongly denied any wrongdoing, rejecting accusations that Gaddafi’s regime provided millions to support his election bid.
The Gaddafi connection
The case traces back to March 2011, when Gaddafi publicly claimed that it was his financial support that helped Sarkozy win the presidency. In an interview, Gaddafi himself said, ‘it’s thanks to us that he reached the presidency. We provided him with the funds that allowed him to win.’ This was backed by reports suggesting that the Libyan government had provided Sarkozy’s campaign with 50 million euros, a claim that Sarkozy vehemently denied. In fact, he labelled the documents supporting the claim as ‘forgeries.’ However, French magistrates later concluded the documents appeared genuine, though no conclusive evidence has been uncovered.
Despite the official cost of Sarkozy’s campaign being 20 million euros, investigators have scrutinised meetings and trips made by Sarkozy’s associates to Libya during his time as interior minister. Particularly controversial are claims made by Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, who alleged he delivered millions of euros in cash from Libya to Sarkozy’s ministry. Takieddine later retracted these statements, sparking a separate investigation into possible witness tampering.
Other defendants in the case
Alongside Sarkozy, 11 other individuals face charges, including three former French ministers, Takieddine, and businessmen allegedly involved in the alleged transfers. The trial also names Bashir Saleh, Gaddafi’s former chief of staff, and several others who are believed to have played intermediary roles.
One of the key pieces of evidence is a notebook discovered after the suspicious death of Gaddafi’s former oil minister, Shukri Ghanem, which allegedly documents payments to Sarkozy’s campaign. Another significant witness is Gaddafi’s brother-in-law, Abdullah al-Senoussi, who confirmed the funds’ existence, though his testimony remains complicated by his own war crimes charges.
Legal battles continue
This trial comes after Sarkozy’s recent legal setbacks, including a conviction for corruption in another case and a separate ruling concerning illegal campaign financing in his 2012 re-election bid. These convictions, alongside the Libyan trial, cast a shadow over his political career, leaving his future uncertain.
As the trial unfolds, Sarkozy’s defence team is confident that the truth will emerge. But with significant political implications, the proceedings promise to be closely watched both within France and internationally. The final verdict is expected after April 10, 2025.
