Sarkozy is guilty of collusion, but not corruption in the case of illegal financing of campaigns. The court decided

The court in Paris recognized on Thursday that former French president Nicolas Sarkozy had committed collusion, but not corruption in a case regarding the alleged illegal financing of his election campaign. The court cleared Sarkozy of the allegation of hiding the misconduct of public funds.

Sarkozy was accused of Illegal financing of his election campaign in 2007 with the support of the Libyan dictator Muammar Gadafi. The allegations concerned corruption, hiding induced public funds and actions in collusion.

The court found Sarkozy guilty of criminal collusion in 2005-07. As judge Nathalie Gavarino said, the former president “allowed his close associates to act to receive financial support” from the Libyan regime.

At the same time, The court cleaned Sarkozy of the allegations of passive corruption and hiding induced public funds.

The court still did not announce the penalty. The prosecutor's office demanded seven years in prison for the former president.

According to the indictment of Sarkozy, he was to accept around EUR 50 million in cash from Gaddafi – an amount twice as high as the limit of financing the election campaign, of EUR 21 million. In France, campaign funds can only come from citizens or residents of this country.

Sarkozy constantly said that he was innocent. He argued that the accusations against him are the result of the collusion of Gaddafi Clan, and the motive is revenge for contributing to the fall of the Libyan dictator in 2011.

Sarkozy was the president of France in 2007-2012. During his rule, Paris's relationship with Tripolis was insulated. In December 2007, a few months after winning the election, Sarkozy accepted Gaddafi at the Elysee Palace. It was the first visit of the Libyan leader in France since 1973. However, as early as 2011, France headed the international armed intervention in Libya, which helped overthrow the dictator.

From Paris Anna Wróbel (PAP)

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