13 oC 
Güneşli
France’s Cour de Cassation confirmed former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s conviction for illegal campaign financing during his failed 2012 re-election bid, upholding a one-year non-custodial sentence, half of which is suspended.
France’s highest court on Wednesday confirmed the conviction of former President Nicolas Sarkozy over illegal campaign financing during his unsuccessful 2012 re-election campaign. The ruling marks the latest legal setback for the 70-year-old former leader, who served as president from 2007 to 2012.
Sarkozy was previously convicted in 2021 and 2024 for exceeding the legal campaign spending limit of €22.5 million. Prosecutors reported that his campaign spent nearly €43 million (approximately $50 million) and allegedly used a friendly public relations firm to conceal the excess. The Cour de Cassation confirmed the one-year non-custodial sentence, with half of it suspended, and rejected his appeal.
Sarkozy’s lawyers indicated that he may take the case to the European Court of Human Rights. The court ruling emphasizes that while Sarkozy may not have personally approved every individual expenditure, he was made aware of the overspending and bears ultimate responsibility under French law.
In a separate, high-profile case, Sarkozy was sentenced on October 21, 2025, to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy linked to attempts by his aides to secure illegal funds from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for his 2007 presidential campaign. He was released earlier this month pending appeal.
Sarkozy has repeatedly denied direct involvement in campaign logistics or financial management, maintaining that he was unaware of the campaign’s overspending. Yet French courts have consistently held him accountable, citing the president’s ultimate responsibility for ensuring legal compliance in campaign financing.
Legal experts note that these rulings may have significant political ramifications, as Sarkozy remains a prominent figure in French politics, facing multiple ongoing legal proceedings related to corruption and abuse of office.(ILKHA)
LEGAL WARNING: All rights of the published news, photos and videos are reserved by İlke Haber Ajansı Basın Yayın San. Trade A.Ş. Under no circumstances can all or part of the news, photos and videos be used without a written contract or subscription.
Venezuelan government has revoked the operating permits of six foreign airlines— Iberia, TAP, Avianca, Latam Colombia, Turkish Airlines, and Gol—after the carriers failed to resume flights to Caracas within the 48-hour deadline set by President Nicolás Maduro’s administration.
Tubas Governorate in the northern occupied West Bank has entered its second consecutive day under an unprecedented, full-scale Israeli military assault, as occupation forces impose a suffocating siege, carry out mass arrests, and violently storm homes, schools, and civilian institutions.
A rocket attack struck the Khor Mor gas field in the Kurdistan Region late Wednesday, forcing a complete shutdown in production, igniting a storage tank, and causing widespread electricity disruptions across several northern Iraqi provinces, according to statements from Reuters, Rudaw, and local sources.
At least 31 people have been killed and 14 others are missing after intense monsoon rains battered Sri Lanka this week, triggering devastating landslides and widespread flooding, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
