Former French President Sarkozy Sentenced for Criminal Conspiracy in Libya Funding Scandal, Allies Urge Macron Pardon

Nicolas Sarkozy, former French president, was sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy related to alleged Libyan funding of his 2007 campaign, making him the first postwar French leader to face jail time. Sarkozy has firmly rejected any notion of a pardon from President Emmanuel Macron, stating he will never admit guilt for something he claims he did not do and will fight to have his innocence recognized. Despite Sarkozy's conviction, his former aide Henri Guaino and other right-wing figures, including Marine Le Pen, have called for Macron to grant clemency, arguing that a pardon could prevent Sarkozy's imprisonment and criticizing the provisional enforcement of the sentence before appeal. The ruling has sparked significant political controversy, with critics on the left mocking Sarkozy's downfall and conservatives denouncing the decision as a threat to legal principles and political stability. Sarkozy's imprisonment is scheduled to begin soon, even as he appeals the verdict, and the case has heightened tensions within French politics ahead of future elections. The situation poses a challenge for Macron, who faces pressure both to uphold justice and to maintain support among the conservative right.