Nicolas Sarkozy, president of France from 2007 to 2012, was found guilty of illegal campaign financing for the 2012 presidential election. A Paris court sentenced him to a year in prison, with the possibility of serving a sentence at home. This is the second sentence the politician has heard this year. In March, he was unlawfully sentenced to three years in prison, two of which were suspended, for corruption and abuse of political influence.
The public prosecutor demanded, for the former French president, a year in prison, including a six-month suspended prison sentence. Sarkozy is expected to appeal the ruling. Currently, the judge has stated that the politician will be able to serve a one-year prison sentence at home using an electronic wristband.
Illicit funding for the 2012 presidential campaign
According to prosecutors, Sarkozy’s party, the Union for a Popular Movement, spent nearly twice what the electoral law allows, 22.5 million euros (104.30 million zlotys) on lavish rallies during the 2012 election campaign, when the politician ran for re-election. – He was elected in the presidential elections. Then UMP hired a friendly PR agency to hide the costs.
Nicolas SarkozyPAP / EPA / RODRIGO JIMENEZ
Sarkozy has denied any wrongdoing. In June, he told the court that he was not involved in the logistics of his campaign or in the way the money was being spent in the run-up to the election. However, the court ruled that Sarkozy was aware of the overspending, but took no action against it, and that he did not have to agree to everyone’s expenses to be responsible for them.
In 2012, Sarkozy lost the presidential election in the second round to François Hollande (48.36% to 51.64%), becoming France’s second president (the first was Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, who had been in office for seven years). Election for a second term.
In March, Sarkozy was convicted of corruption and abuse of power
in March The President of France was convicted in 2007-2012 of corruption and abuse of political influence. I heard a three-year prison sentence, two of which have been suspended. The verdict was issued by the Paris Criminal Court. He has not yet begun to serve his sentence.
Nicolas Sarkozy was charged with attempting to obtain classified information from Court of Cassation judge Gilbert Azibert, and for corruption and abuse of political influence. Also on the port was lawyer and friend of President Thierry Herzog and Judge Azebert. Both were convicted of the crimes attributed to them: Herzog – a violation of lawyer ethics and legal confidentiality, and Judge Ezibert – a supporter.
Main image source: PAP / EPA / RODRIGO JIMENEZ
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