Nicolas Sarkozy released from prison in France pending appeal

PARIS,— Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president of France, returned home Monday after a Paris court allowed his release from prison while he challenges his conviction in a high-profile case involving alleged Libyan funding of his 2007 election campaign.

Sarkozy, 70, had been jailed since October 21, 2025 following a guilty verdict handed down in September for criminal conspiracy.

The court found that members of his political circle sought financial contributions from Libya’s then-leader Muammar Gaddafi during Sarkozy’s first presidential run.

A three-judge panel ruled that Sarkozy did not pose a flight risk and could therefore remain free as his appeal proceeds. He remains under judicial control, which prevents him from leaving France and prohibits any contact with Justice Ministry officials. The public prosecutor’s office had earlier recommended his conditional release.

According to the court’s statement, the decision to free Sarkozy does not indicate whether his appeal has merit but was based solely on procedural grounds. His legal team said he would continue to contest all accusations against him.

After returning home, Sarkozy posted on the platform X, writing, “Truth will prevail. Life has taught us this.”

He said he would dedicate his efforts to preparing his appeal and added, “The end of this story is not yet written.” His son Louis shared a message on social media reading “Vive la liberté,” alongside a photo of the two taken years earlier.

Sarkozy was serving a five-year sentence at La Santé Prison in Paris, a punishment the court described as justified by the “exceptional gravity” of the charges.

The brief incarceration marked an unprecedented moment for a former French president, highlighting his continued legal troubles since leaving office in 2012.

During Monday’s hearing, Sarkozy appeared via video link rather than in person. He told the judges that he accepted all conditions set by the court.

“I am French. I love my country. I will comply with every obligation imposed on me,” he said. He described prison life as “very hard, as it must be for any detainee,” and called the experience “draining.”

Sarkozy maintains that he is the target of political revenge. Since stepping down from the presidency, he has faced a string of investigations and convictions.

Last year, France’s top court confirmed a separate ruling for corruption and influence peddling, requiring him to wear an electronic bracelet for one year. That sentence has since ended.

Another appeals court also upheld his conviction for illegal campaign financing tied to his failed 2012 re-election bid.

The country’s highest judicial authority is expected to deliver a final ruling on that case this month. French judicial officials said Sarkozy remains under investigation in a separate case involving possible witness tampering.

(With files from Reuters)