French court rejects Sarkozy's bid to merge jail terms

"Last year, Sarkozy became modern France's first president to have gone to jail, serving 20 days in a case related to alleged Libyan funding in his 2007 election campaign. In December 2024, he exhausted his last legal recourse in the so-called "Bismuth" case for trying to extract favours from a judge and served a sentence with an electronic ankle tag that was removed in May last year after several months."

"In November last year, he received his second final conviction in what is known as the "Bygmalion" case over illegal financing of his failed 2012 re-election bid. France's highest court upheld a sentence of six months. During a closed hearing in late February, the former head of state requested that his six‑month custodial sentence in the Bygmalion case be considered served by virtue of the electronic tag he wore last year."

"The request is only possible if various criteria are met, including that the sentences in separate proceedings be of the same nature and have exhausted all appeals. Sarkozy will again be in court from March 16, for the appeal in the case against him related to alleged Libyan funding in his earlier election campaign."

Nicolas Sarkozy, former French president who served from 2007 to 2012, faces a court ruling requiring him to serve jail time for an illegal funding conviction. His lawyer sought to merge sentences from two separate convictions: the "Bismuth" case involving attempted judicial favors, and the "Bygmalion" case concerning illegal financing of his failed 2012 re-election campaign. Sarkozy previously served 20 days in jail related to alleged Libyan funding in his 2007 campaign and wore an electronic ankle tag for several months in the Bismuth case. The 71-year-old has exhausted legal recourse in both cases and faces an upcoming court appearance in March regarding the Libyan funding allegations.

Read at The Local France