Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy went on trial on Monday, accused of receiving illegal campaign financing from the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi during his successful 2007 presidential bid.
Sarkozy, who appeared calm and spoke with his lawyers and fellow defendants before the trial began, has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The conservative ex-leader faces charges including concealment of embezzlement of public funds, passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, and criminal conspiracy, according to France’s financial prosecutor’s office.
The three-month trial could further damage the already fragile public trust in France’s political system. Prosecutors claim Sarkozy entered a corrupt deal with the Libyan government to secure campaign funds, with millions of euros allegedly transported in suitcases to Paris.
Sarkozy’s defense attorney, Christophe Ingrain, dismissed the charges, describing them as baseless and asserting that there is no evidence of Libyan financial involvement in the campaign. “After a decade-long investigation with significant resources, wiretaps, and international inquiries, no trace of financing, transfer, or payment has been found,” Ingrain said.
If convicted, Sarkozy could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to €375,000 ($386,000).
The trial adds to the former president’s growing list of legal troubles. In December, France’s highest court upheld a conviction for corruption and influence-peddling after Sarkozy attempted to secure favors from a judge. He was sentenced to wear an electronic bracelet instead of serving prison time, marking a first for a former French president.
Sarkozy is also awaiting a ruling on a separate case in which he was convicted for concealing illegal campaign expenses.
The sprawling investigation, launched in 2013, suggests Sarkozy struck a deal with Gadhafi in 2005 while serving as France’s interior minister, to secure financial support for his presidential campaign in exchange for political backing on the international stage. Gadhafi was killed during the 2011 Libyan uprising.
The case resurfaced in 2012 when the French investigative site Mediapart published a document allegedly from Libyan intelligence, dated December 2006, suggesting Gadhafi agreed to fund Sarkozy’s campaign. Sarkozy dismissed the document as a forgery.
The case, which is linked to nine other legal proceedings, has seen investigators seek cooperation from over 21 countries to trace the alleged illicit funds. The trial involves 12 other defendants, including Sarkozy’s former chief of staff Claude Gueant, ex-Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux, and Sarkozy’s former campaign financing chief Eric Woerth. All three appeared in court on Monday.
Anti-corruption groups, including Sherpa, Anticor, and Transparency International, issued a statement condemning the alleged financing as an example of cross-border corruption that deprives citizens of essential resources by diverting funds for political gain.
