Paris Court Convicts Ex-President Sarkozy in Libya Campaign Financing Scandal

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been convicted by a Paris court of criminal conspiracy related to allegations that his 2007 presidential campaign was illegally financed with funds from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The court found that Sarkozy, as a serving minister and party leader, allowed his close associates to seek financial support from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favors. However, he was acquitted of charges including passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, and embezzlement of public funds. Sarkozy, who denies all charges and calls the case politically motivated, faced a potential prison sentence, with prosecutors requesting seven years. Two of his close aides, Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux, were also convicted for their roles in the conspiracy. This conviction adds to Sarkozy's ongoing legal troubles, as he had previously been convicted in other cases involving corruption and campaign finance violations.