French ex-president Sarkozy is fighting against jail time for Chinese astronauts back on Earth after six months

Affair-ridden ex-president of France Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with bribery and illegal influence since Monday. The 67-year-old appealed against a conviction from March last year. The sentence at the time was three years in prison, two of which were suspended and one at home under electronic surveillance. At first, Sarkozy protested his innocence. ‘Where’s the proof? There’s no evidence. I’m defending my pride here.” The conservative politician was head of state between 2007 and 2012.

Specifically, it concerns the fact that in 2014 Sarkozy would have tried through his loyal lawyer Thierry Herzog to obtain investigative secrets from lawyer Gilbert Azibert in another affair in which he was involved. In return, Azibert would have received support in applying for a position in Monaco. Herzog and Azibert were also convicted in the first instance and are now on trial again. The process will last until December 16.

The allegations are based on tapped telephone conversations between the politician and his lawyer. There was disagreement about the legality of this wiretapping operation. Investigators discovered that Sarkozy and Herzog used mobile phones, which the ex-president had bought under a pseudonym, for confidential conversations. On Monday, Sarkozy was outraged that lawyer-client communications were confidential and that the wiretapping was illegal. In total, 3,500 of his calls were tapped.

The sentence that the politician, popularly known as ‘Sarko’, received in 2021 hit hard. Such a verdict against a former head of state was unprecedented in France’s recent history. The execution was initially stayed due to the tense appeal.

But it wouldn’t be the final verdict against the former civil rights star. In September 2021, a court sentenced him to one year in prison for illegal campaign financing. Sarkozy also appealed here. The background was that in the unsuccessful campaign for his re-election in 2012, he exceeded the cost ceiling for equal opportunity reasons by no less than 20 million euros.

The Conservatives’ tenure in the Élysée Palace was already marked by affairs with wealthy friends, outrageous members of the government and favoritism. The former hopes of the right then lost in 2012 to the socialist François Hollande, who only lasted one term.

Sarkozy is still regarded as an icon by many supporters. But leading politicians in the conservative Républicains are now trying to break away from him. The former head of state is also politically burdened by his convictions. He may face another lawsuit. Justice is investigating alleged payments by Libya for the 2007 election campaign. Sarkozy also rejects all allegations here. (saw/sda/dpa)