Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy returned home on Monday after a Paris court ordered his release from prison while he appeals his conviction for allegedly conspiring to secure campaign funds from Libya for his 2007 presidential bid.
Sarkozy, who was sentenced to five years in prison on October 21 following his conviction in September, had been serving time at La Santé prison in Paris. The court ruled that he posed no flight risk and could therefore remain free under judicial supervision until the appeal process concludes.
The 69-year-old former leader, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, expressed relief after his release.
“Truth will prevail. This is a fact that life teaches us,” Sarkozy wrote on X after returning home. “The end of the story remains to be written.”
His conditions for release include a ban on leaving France and on communicating with any officials from the justice ministry.
Sarkozy has consistently denied wrongdoing, calling himself a victim of “revenge and hatred.” Speaking to the court via video link from prison, he said:
“It’s tough. Really tough, as it must be for any detainee. I’d even say it’s draining. But I’m French. I love my country, and I will comply with all judicial obligations.”
Sarkozy’s imprisonment had marked a stunning fall for a former head of state once seen as a central figure in French politics. His son Louis Sarkozy celebrated the court’s decision with a message on X reading, “Vive la liberté,” alongside a childhood photo with his father.
The public prosecutor’s office supported Sarkozy’s conditional release, noting that it did not indicate whether his appeal was likely to succeed.
Sarkozy has faced multiple legal challenges since leaving office. France’s highest court last year upheld a conviction for corruption and influence peddling, requiring him to wear an electronic monitoring tag for a year, a first for any former French president.
He also faces a pending ruling over illegal campaign financing from his failed 2012 re-election bid and remains under investigation in a separate witness tampering case.
Despite his mounting legal troubles, Sarkozy remains a highly influential figure in France’s conservative political circles.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
