Paris Court Orders Release Of Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy From Prison

Last Updated:November 10, 2025, 20:39 IST

Nicolas Sarkozy to be freed pending appeal after his conviction for conspiracy with Gaddafi. He cannot leave France or contact key individuals.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be released from prison after a Paris court allowed to set him free pending an appeal for his conviction for criminal conspiracy.

For the first time in modern history, a former head of state was convicted in September for making a corruption pact with the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in return of receiving funding for the 2007 French presidential election campaign.

Speaking to the court on Monday via videolink, he said that his 20 days in prison had been, “very hard".

He, however, said the prison staff had “an exceptional humanity which made this nightmare bearable".

According to French magazine Le Point, the former President has refused to eat anything except yogurts reportedly due to fear of other prisoners spitting in his food.

Prosecutors urged the court to release Sarkozy under judicial control, with restrictions on whom he can contact.

The court ruled Sarkozy will be forbidden from leaving France.

CNN’s BFMTV quoted the court as stating that Sarkozy is forbidden from contacting people implicated in his case as well as the current French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, who came under public scrutiny for visiting Sarkozy in prison in October.

Previously, when the court had ordered sentence to former President, he said: “I am innocent; this justice is a scandal."

Later, he told reporters: “What happened today … is of extreme gravity in regard to the rule of law, and for the trust one can have in the justice system."

He said: “If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high."

News world Paris Court Orders Release Of Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy From Prison

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