On November 26, 2025, France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, delivered a resounding verdict that reverberated through the country’s political landscape. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy, once the face of center-right politics and a dominant force in French public life, saw his conviction for illegally financing his failed 2012 re-election campaign upheld, marking the final chapter in a years-long legal saga that has gripped the nation.
The court’s decision confirmed the verdict issued by an appeals court in February 2024, which sentenced Sarkozy to one year in prison—six months of which are suspended. Under French law, the remaining six months can be served under house arrest, monitored by an electronic bracelet or subject to other requirements determined by a judge. This means the former president, who turned 70 in January, is unlikely to return to a traditional jail cell, especially given that French convicts over 70 can request less-restrictive arrangements.
According to BBC, prosecutors argued that Sarkozy’s campaign team, bolstered by his UMP party, spent nearly double the €22.5 million ($24.5 million) legal cap, splurging on lavish rallies and campaign events in an effort to sway voters. To mask the overspending, the party enlisted the PR firm Bygmalion to invoice the party directly, rather than the campaign, effectively hiding the true scale of their expenditures. The total campaign bill, as noted by The New York Times, exceeded €42 million (about $50 million), almost twice the legal limit.
The conviction is not Sarkozy’s first brush with the law. In fact, it’s his second definitive conviction in recent years. Last December, the High Court of Appeal upheld a separate corruption conviction, requiring the former president to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet for six months. Then, in September 2025, Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in jail after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a different case. He spent 20 days in prison—making him the first former French president to serve jail time in decades—before being released earlier in November pending appeal. An appeal trial for that case is scheduled for next year, but until then, Sarkozy remains under strict judicial supervision and is barred from leaving France.
Despite the mounting legal troubles, Sarkozy has consistently denied all allegations leveled against him. Throughout the trial and subsequent appeals, he maintained his innocence, insisting that he had no knowledge of the illegal financial maneuvers orchestrated by his campaign team and that he never authorized any wrongdoing. Nevertheless, the courts found otherwise, with judges citing evidence that Sarkozy ignored repeated warnings from accountants about the campaign’s ballooning budget.
As Reuters reported, Sarkozy’s legal woes have not only tarnished his legacy but also cast a long shadow over France’s political establishment. Even though he left office more than a decade ago, Sarkozy has continued to wield considerable influence within center-right politics, often weighing in on national debates and remaining a prominent figure among his supporters. The latest chapter in his legal battles has only heightened public interest in his story, with many in France watching closely as the former president navigates the fallout from his convictions.
The spectacle of a former head of state facing repeated convictions and even serving jail time is a rare occurrence in France, a country that has long prided itself on the integrity of its political institutions. For some observers, Sarkozy’s downfall is a cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked ambition and the importance of transparency in campaign finance. For others, it’s a testament to the strength of the French judicial system, demonstrating that no one—regardless of status or power—is above the law.
In the wake of his release from prison, Sarkozy has sought to reclaim the narrative, announcing the publication of a new book chronicling his recent experiences behind bars. Titled "A Prisoner’s Diary," the book promises a candid account of his three weeks in jail. An excerpt, published on social media, reads: "In prison there is nothing to see, and nothing to do. I forget the silence that does not exist at La Santé [prison], where there is much to listen to. Here, the noise is, unfortunately, constant. But—like in the desert—inner life strengthens in jail." The passage offers a rare glimpse into the inner world of a man once at the pinnacle of power, now reflecting on solitude and resilience.
The Bygmalion affair, as the scandal has come to be known, is just one of several legal entanglements Sarkozy faces. Since leaving the Élysée Palace in 2012, he has been charged in at least four separate cases, most involving allegations of fraud or campaign finance violations. The 2012 campaign overspending case, however, has proven particularly damaging, both for its scale and for the elaborate efforts undertaken to conceal the true costs from regulators and the public.
According to France 24, the court’s ruling on November 26, 2025, is definitive. There are no further avenues for appeal in this case, cementing Sarkozy’s status as the first former French president in modern history to be convicted twice on criminal charges. The decision comes just two weeks after his release from prison in connection with the 2007 campaign financing case, underscoring the relentless pace and gravity of his legal troubles.
For many in France, the case has prompted renewed calls for stricter oversight of political campaign financing and greater accountability for public officials. The revelation that Sarkozy’s campaign flagrantly disregarded spending limits—despite explicit warnings—has fueled debate over the adequacy of existing regulations and the need for reform. Critics argue that more robust enforcement mechanisms are necessary to prevent similar abuses in the future and to restore public trust in the political process.
Yet, amid the legal setbacks and public scrutiny, Sarkozy’s enduring popularity among segments of the French electorate remains striking. His supporters view him as a victim of judicial overreach, targeted for his outspoken style and political influence. Detractors, on the other hand, see his convictions as a long-overdue reckoning for a leader who, in their view, too often blurred the lines between ambition and legality.
As the former president awaits his next appeal trial and prepares to publish his prison memoir, the story of Nicolas Sarkozy stands as a compelling chapter in the annals of French political history. It’s a tale of power, ambition, and accountability—one that continues to captivate a nation wrestling with the meaning of justice and the responsibilities of those who seek to lead.
With the Court of Cassation’s ruling, Nicolas Sarkozy’s conviction for illegal campaign financing is now final, closing one chapter even as others remain unresolved. The legacy of his presidency, and the lessons drawn from his legal battles, will likely be debated in France for years to come.
