GADDAFI’S MILLIONS: Sarkozy’s Campaign Cash Scandal Rocks French Elite

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is due to appear in court on Monday alongside three former ministers, facing accusations that his 2007 presidential campaign received illicit funding from the regime of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The trial commences mere weeks after Sarkozy’s final ruling in a separate corruption case. Crown prosecutors allege the former president and his associates struck a “corruption pact” with Gaddafi, whereby the Libyan leader would bankroll Sarkozy’s campaign in exchange for assistance in rehabilitating Libya’s international standing.

If found guilty, Sarkozy could face up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a €375,000 Euro fine, and a five-year ban from holding public office. The charges include corruption, misappropriation of public funds, illegal campaign financing, and criminal conspiracy.

“My client keenly awaits the opportunity to contest these fabricated accusations during the four-month hearing,” Sarkozy’s barrister said in a statement. The former president has steadfastly denied receiving any Libyan funding, dismissing the allegations as “a lie.”

The trial follows Sarkozy’s existing legal woes. In December, he was found guilty of entering into a corruption agreement with Gilbert Azibert, the then-chief justice of the Court of Cassation, promising to secure him an honorary position in Monaco. Consequently, Sarkozy is presently serving a one-year sentence under electronic surveillance.

The latest proceedings, scheduled to run until 10 April, mark another chapter in the complex legal saga surrounding one of France’s most prominent political figures.

The case has garnered considerable attention, highlighting questions about campaign financing and international relations during Sarkozy’s presidency.