French ex-president Sarkozy accused in Libya affair

France’s finance prosecutor has charged ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy and 12 of his confidants in the affair over alleged election campaign millions from Libya. Sarkozy (68) is accused of embezzling public money, corruption, a criminal organization and illegal financing of election campaigns, the Paris prosecutor’s office reported on Thursday. It is not yet clear if and when there will be a lawsuit.

The French judiciary had already opened an investigation against the former head of state in 2018. He was suspected of corruption, illegal campaign financing and complicity in embezzling Libyan government funds. In addition, in 2020 there was the accusation of “criminal organization”.

The proceedings were prompted by indications that Sarkozy’s 2007 election campaign was illegally financed by the regime of then-Libyan ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi. A witness said in 2016 that in late 2006 or early 2007 he had brought several suitcases – prepared by the Libyan regime – totaling five million euros to the Paris Ministry of the Interior, which was then headed by Sarkozy. Sarkozy, who ruled at the Élysée Palace from 2007 to 2012, had already dismissed the allegations at the time.

The twelve co-defendants include Sarkozy’s then budget minister Éric Woerth, his then bureau boss Claude Guéant and ex-minister Brice Hortefeux.

For the affair-ridden Sarkozy, the Libyan affair is not the only legal proceeding. The verdict will be handed down next Wednesday in an appeal against Sarkozy, in which he was sentenced to three years in prison for bribery and influence. He also appealed a conviction for illegal campaign finance in September 2021. (sda/dpa)