This marked a significant downfall for Sarkozy, becoming the first post-war French president to face imprisonment after leading the country from 2007 to 2012.
He was incarcerated at La Sante prison in Paris in October but was later released under judicial supervision, with restrictions including a ban on leaving France.
The conviction followed years of legal battles surrounding allegations that Sarkozy’s 2007 election campaign received financial support from Libya during Muammar Gaddafi’s rule.
Despite denying the charges, Sarkozy was found guilty of criminal conspiracy between 2005 and 2007 for allowing his aides to seek campaign financing from contacts in Libya.
While there was no concrete evidence linking him to a deal with Gaddafi or money from Libya reaching his campaign, the court deemed his actions as conspiratorial.
Advocacy groups emphasized the importance of fighting corruption to uphold the rule of law and democracy, underscoring the significance of integrity in governance.
Sarkozy’s lawyer declined to comment ahead of the appeal trial.
