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Alleged Libyan financing in the 2007 French presidential election

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Nicolas Sarkozy's (left) 2007 presidential campaign allegedly received, through intermediaries, up to €50 million from Libya's Muammar Gaddafi (right).[1]

Libya under Muammar Gaddafi allegedly bankrolled the presidential campaign of French politician Nicolas Sarkozy with up to €50 million in pay-outs in relation to the 2007 French presidential election. Sarkozy, who served as president of France from 2007 to 2012, was convicted of corruption in 2021 and sentenced to five years in prison in 2025.[2][3]

Background

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2007 election

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Nicolas Sarkozy defeated Ségolène Royal to become President of France in the 2007 presidential election.[4] During the election, candidates were limited to spending no more than €21 million, and no single person could donate in excess of €7500 to a candidate.[5] In addition, the sources of donations had to be publicly declared and contributions from foreign nationals were prohibited.[6] Sarkozy officially spent 21 million Euros on his campaign.[7] The low size of the campaign spend relative to those in United States elections later prompted French scholar Sophie Meunier to declare that "French politicians are, therefore, not enslaved to special interests or Super PACs as they are in the U.S."[7]

Libyan détente and later reversal

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In December 2007, following Sarkozy's inauguration as President of France, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi visited the country on Sarkozy's invitation, over the objections of both the political opposition and members of Sarkozy's government.[8] Gaddafi's visit to France was his first in over 35 years; during the trip, France agreed to sell Libya 21 Airbus aircraft and the two countries signed a nuclear cooperation agreement.[8] Negotiations for the sale of over a dozen French Dassault Rafale fighter jets, as well as military helicopters, were also initiated during Gaddafi's visit.[9]

In 2011, France, under Sarkozy, voted for international military intervention in the Libyan Civil War against the Gaddafi government in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. France then attacked Libyan government forces in support of the National Transitional Council in Opération Harmattan.[10]

Allegations and investigation

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Allegations

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In March 2011, the same month French forces began their intervention in Libya, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, a son of Muammar Gaddafi, gave an interview to Euronews in which he claimed that the Libyan state had donated €50 million to Sarkozy's 2007 presidential campaign in exchange for access and favours.[11][12][13] He was quoted as saying: "We funded it and we have all the details and are ready to reveal everything. The first thing we want this clown to do is to give the money back to the Libyan people. He was given assistance so that he could help them. But he's disappointed us: give us back our money."[11] Sarkozy rejected the claim by Gaddafi.[12]

The sale of two Andries van Eertvelt (pictured) paintings by Claude Guéant has become a central question in the investigation.

The following October, the claim that Libya had funded Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign was repeated by former Libyan prime minister Baghdadi Mahmudi.[12] Investigative website Mediapart subsequently published several documents appearing to prove payment of €50 million and also published a claim by Ziad Takieddine that he had personally handed three briefcases full of cash to Sarkozy.[12][14] French magistrates later acquired the diaries of former Libyan oil minister Shukri Ghanem in which payments to Sarkozy were mentioned.[15] Shortly thereafter, however, Ghanem was found dead, floating in the Danube in Austria and thereby preventing his corroboration of the diaries.[13][15]

In 2014, television station France 3 released an audio recording made by Delphine Minoui on March 16, 2011, during which Minoui interviewed Muammar Gaddafi.[16] In the recording, Gaddafi told Minoui that Sarkozy had approached him seeking funds for his presidential election campaign while still serving as French interior minister.[16]

In February 2018, the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper quoted a source alleging that Sarkozy had promised Libyan representatives improved relations between France and Libya should he be elected president and that he would wrap up the matter of the bombing of UTA Flight 772.[17] As recently as 2018, Saif al-Islam reiterated his 2011 claim, and since also added that a former officer of the Libyan intelligence service was at that time in possession of a recording of a meeting between Muammar Gaddafi and Sarkozy that occurred in Tripoli in 2007, during which payments were discussed.[18]

In January 2025, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi reiterated his accusation against Nicolas Sarkozy, concerning this transaction.[19]

Investigation

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Brice Hortefeux in 2014

In 2013 the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) officially opened an investigation into the allegations of Libyan funding of Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign.[20][21] In March 2018, Sarkozy-era interior minister Brice Hortefeux voluntarily appeared before French police for questioning.[14] Several arrests have been made in relation to the inquiry.

Arrests and charges

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Claude Guéant was charged in 2015 with money laundering and forgery.

On March 6, 2015, Claude Guéant, the former chief of staff to Sarkozy, was arrested. He was charged with money laundering and forgery.[22] Investigators allege that Guéant was instrumental in facilitating the transfer of funds from Libya and may have personally received US$500,000. Guéant has denied these allegations, claiming the money was payment for two Andries van Eertvelt paintings he sold to a Malaysian attorney. He maintains the sale was arranged by Saudi businessman, Khalid Ali Bugshan.[23]

On the same day as Guéant's arrest, Khalid Ali Bugshan was also taken into police custody for questioning, though he was not charged.[24] Later that month, on March 30, 2015, Claude Guéant's son, François Guéant, was also brought in for questioning in a matter separate from the paintings sale.[25] The investigation later expanded to include French-Algerian businessman Alexandre Djouhri. On January 9, 2018, Djouhri was arrested by British police at Heathrow Airport based on a European Arrest Warrant; the warrant was issued after he failed to appear for questioning in Paris.[26] Djouhri was eventually released on $1.4 million bail, and was ultimately returned to France and placed in pre-trial detention ahead of a March 28 hearing.[27][28] The inquiry culminated in the arrest of Sarkozy on March 20. He was detained for questioning at the DCPJ station in Nanterre.[20][6] He was charged with corruption the following day.[2][29]

Trial

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On 1 March 2021, Sarkozy was convicted of different corruption charges, after investigators looking into the Libyan finance allegations wiretapped conversations between Sarkozy and his lawyer, Thierry Herzog.[30] On 17 May 2023 this conviction was confirmed by The Paris Court of Appeals as was the sentence of three years in jail: two of them suspended and one to be served as house arrest wearing an electronic tag. Sarkozy said he would appeal the verdict to the Court of Cassation, France's top court.[31]

On October 6, 2023, Sarkozy was indicted for “concealment of witness tampering” and “participation in a criminal association with a view to committing the offense of fraud in judgment in an organized gang” and was also placed under arrest. status of assisted witness for “participation in a criminal conspiracy with a view to committing the offense of active corruption of foreign judicial personnel” in Lebanon as part of the investigation into the retraction of witness Ziad Takieddine.[32]

On July 9, 2024, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was placed on bail, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is accused of having put pressure on a witness who accused Sarkozy of having received illegal campaign financing from Libya.[33]

On March 27, 2025, the Financial Prosecutor's Office requested a seven-year prison sentence and a €300,000 fine for Nicolas Sarkozy, as well as a five-year ban on elections [fr]. For Claude Guéant and Brice Hortefeux, the prosecution requested prison sentences of six and three years, respectively, plus a fine.[34]

On September 25, 2025, the Paris Criminal Court sentenced Sarkozy to five years in prison for criminal association, making him the first French president sentenced to prison.[35] His former interior minister Brice Hortefeux was sentenced to two years. His former advisor Claude Guéant was sentenced to six years, convertible due to health issues.[36]

Reaction

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Sarkozy's political party, The Republicans, issued a statement following his arrest in which it said the former president had the party's full support.[37] Spokesman Christian Jacob later suggested that the accusations against Sarkozy were politically motivated.[37] Following Sarkozy's arrest, Éric Ciotti expressed confidence the former president would be exonerated.[38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Aurelien Breeden (March 23, 2018). "Nicolas Sarkozy and the Libya Investigation: The Key Questions". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Dallison, Paul (March 21, 2018). "Nicolas Sarkozy charged with corruption". Politico. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  3. ^ "Nicolas Sarkozy sentenced to five years in Libya campaign financing case". BBC News. September 25, 2025. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  4. ^ "The Gaullist revolutionary". The Economist. May 10, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  5. ^ Christopher, Brennan (March 20, 2018). "Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy in custody over Gaddafi money scandal". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Kennedy, Dana (March 20, 2018). "Gaddafi's Ghost Takes Revenge as France's Ex-President Sarkozy Detained for Questioning". Daily Beast. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Meunier, Sophie (March 3, 2010). "The French Presidency Is a Bargain". HuffPost. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Gaddafi visit seals French deals". BBC News. December 10, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  9. ^ Walt, Vivienne (December 14, 2007). "French Defense Execs Woo Gaddafi". Time. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  10. ^ Elliott, Michael (March 19, 2011). "Viewpoint: How Libya Became a French and British War". Time. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "EXCLUSIVE – Gaddafi to Sarkozy: 'give us back our money'". Euronews. Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d Chazan, David. "Sarkozy aide charged with money laundering". Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Explained: What we know about the Gaddafi-Sarkozy funding scandal". euronews. March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  14. ^ a b "French police hold ex-president Sarkozy over 'Gaddafi funding'". BBC News. March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Gaddafi relations haunt Sarkozy in 2007 campaign financing case". France24. March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Gaddafi funded 'mentally deficient' Sarkozy, interview claims". France 24. January 29, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  17. ^ "Qaddafi regime funded presidential campaigns in US, Ukraine, France". The National. February 19, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  18. ^ Mumbere, Daniel (March 20, 2018). "Gaddafi's son, Saif al Islam welcomes Sarkozy arrest, offers evidence". Africa News. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  19. ^ "Afrique EXCLUSIF Saïf al-Islam Kadhafi sort de son silence et réitère ses accusations contre Nicolas Sarkozy". Radio France Internationale. January 21, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  20. ^ a b Piel, Simon (March 20, 2018). "Financement liby en de la campagne de 2007 : Nicolas Sarkozy en garde à vue En savoir plus sur". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  21. ^ Chrisafis, Angelique (April 19, 2013). "French inquiry opens into allegations Gaddafi funded Sarkozy 2007 campaign". The Guardian. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  22. ^ Chazan, David (March 7, 2015). "Sarkozy aide charged with money laundering". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  23. ^ Lazard, Violette (July 20, 2015). "Les fausses pistes des tableaux de Claude Guéant". L'Obs (in French). Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  24. ^ "Affaire Guéant: qui est l'homme d'affaires saoudien placé en garde à vue?". L'Express. March 7, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  25. ^ "Le fils de Guéant en garde à vue dans l'affaire des soupçons de financement libyen de la campagne de Sarkozy". HuffPost France. March 31, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  26. ^ "UK arrests French suspect in Sarkozy financing probe". France24. January 8, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  27. ^ "France 'manipulating' case against businessman sought over Sarkozy allegations: lawyer". Reuters. February 22, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  28. ^ "Sarkozy held in Libya financing probe". Malaysian Insight. March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  29. ^ "French ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy charged in campaign funding investigation". Deutsche Welle. March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  30. ^ "Sarkozy corruption conviction rocks French conservatives - POLITICO". POLITICO.EU. March 2021.
  31. ^ "Nicolas Sarkozy loses appeal on corruption conviction". POLITICO. May 17, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  32. ^ "Nicolas Sarkozy doublement mis en examen dans l'enquête sur la rétractation de Ziad Takieddine". LeMonde (in French). October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  33. ^ "Carla bruni-sarkozy charges with Witness tampering over husbands campaign finance case". Sky News. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  34. ^ "Financement libyen: sept ans de prison requis contre l'ex-président français Nicolas Sarkozy". Radio France International (in French). Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  35. ^ "Nicolas Sarkozy condamné à cinq ans de prison pour association de malfaiteurs dans l'affaire du financement libyen de sa campagne de 2007". Franceinfo (in French). September 25, 2025. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  36. ^ "DIRECT. Condamnation de Nicolas Sarkozy : "On fera tout pour qu'il ne dorme pas en prison", affirme son avocat sur France 2". Franceinfo (in French). September 25, 2025. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  37. ^ a b Chazan, David (March 20, 2018). "Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy questioned in election financing probe". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  38. ^ "Réaction d'Eric Ciotti à la garde à vue de Nicolas Sarkozy". France Bleu. March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
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