Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been unsuccessful in his appeal against a prison sentence for corruption. However, the Paris appeals court has ruled that he can serve his sentence at home with an electronic monitoring device instead of going to jail.
In 2021, Sarkozy was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, for attempting to influence a judge in a separate case. This made him the first former French president to receive a custodial sentence.
Sarkozy’s lawyer has announced plans to challenge the ruling further with the Court of Cassation, one of France’s highest jurisdictions, stating that Sarkozy is innocent. In addition to the prison sentence, Sarkozy has been banned from holding public office for three years. There are multiple corruption cases involving Sarkozy, but he denies any wrongdoing.
Recently, prosecutors requested that he face trial over allegations of illegal contributions to his 2007 presidential campaign by the Libyan government, but the final decision lies with investigating magistrates.
Sarkozy served one term as president from 2007 to 2014 and was known for his tough stance on immigration and efforts to reform France’s economy. Critics criticized his leadership style as excessive and focused on celebrity culture, contrasting with the traditional and grand nature of the role.
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