France's highest court has upheld a sentence against former French President Nicolas Sarkozy over the illegal financing of his 2012 re-election campaign.
Sarkozy, who was found guilty of overspending on his campaign and subsequently hiring a PR firm named Bygmalion to conceal the excess costs, was handed a one-year sentence in 2024, with six months that can be served under electronic monitoring rather than incarceration.
Despite his denials, prosecutors alleged that Sarkozy's UMP party exceeded the €22.5 million (£19.4 million) campaign expenditure limit by nearly doubling that amount on luxurious rallies and events. To cover the overspend, the UMP reportedly engaged Bygmalion to invoice the party instead of the campaign itself.
This ruling represents Sarkozy's second definitive conviction as he has faced various legal challenges since leaving office in 2012. In December 2024, the High Court of Appeal affirmed a corruption conviction which required him to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet. Furthermore, in September 2024, he was sentenced to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy, serving 20 days before his release earlier this month.
Following his release, an appeal trial has been scheduled for next year. Until then, Sarkozy is subjected to strict judicial supervision, which prohibits him from leaving France.
Following his brief imprisonment, Sarkozy's team reported that he is penning a book titled 'A Prisoner's Diary' about his experience in prison. An excerpt circulated on social media describes the relentless noise in prison and reflects on the strengthening of inner life during incarceration.
