French politics have been thrown into turmoil following the conviction of former president Nicolas Sarkozy, who was sentenced on September 25, 2025, to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy over a campaign funding scheme involving Libya. The verdict, delivered by judge Nathalie Gavarino, marks a historic moment: Sarkozy is the first French post-war leader to face jail time, pending an appeal. Yet, what has followed the courtroom drama is perhaps even more shocking—a wave of threats and political recriminations that have exposed deep rifts within French society and its institutions.
According to France 24 and RFI, reports emerged just a day after the verdict that judge Gavarino had received death threats and messages threatening her with serious violence. Paris prosecutors responded swiftly, opening two investigations into these threats on September 27, 2025. The chilling nature of these messages has sent shockwaves through the French judiciary and prompted urgent calls for action from the highest levels of government.
President Emmanuel Macron, initially criticized for his silence by the magistrates union (USM), broke his silence on September 28, 2025, with a forceful condemnation. Posting on social media platform X, Macron wrote, "Attacks and death threats, old or recent, against several magistrates are unacceptable." He continued, "The rule of law is the foundation of our democracy. The independence of the judiciary, its impartiality, as well as the protection of the magistrates who uphold it, are its essential pillars." Macron also directed the justice and interior ministers in the incoming government to prosecute those responsible as soon as they are identified. He emphasized, "Decisions of the courts can be commented on or criticised in public, but always in a spirit of mutual respect."
The threats against judge Gavarino have been widely denounced across the political spectrum. Outgoing justice minister Gérald Darmanin echoed Macron's sentiments, condemning the attacks in a statement on September 27. Jean-François Bohnert, head of France's National Financial Prosecutor’s Office, took to RTL radio to express his outrage, stating, "We have no hatred to express. Our compass is the law, the rule of law." He described the threats as "unbearable and unacceptable," and warned that undermining the judiciary with violence or death threats is itself an assault on democracy.
The magistrates union had earlier criticized what it called the "deafening" silence from Macron, arguing that under article 64 of the French constitution, the president is meant to guarantee the independence of the judiciary. Their concerns were echoed by Peimane Ghaleh-Marzban, president of the Paris judicial court, who noted in an interview with France Inter radio that the decision to delay Sarkozy’s incarceration—sparing him handcuffs in the courtroom—demonstrated the court’s discretion and recognition of Sarkozy’s status. "Many ordinary defendants go straight to prison even while appealing," he observed.
The verdict itself has sparked a fierce debate about the state of French democracy and the impartiality of its judicial system. Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012 and remains a significant figure on the right, has been defiant. Outside the courtroom on September 25, he condemned the verdict as "extremely serious for the rule of law." In an interview published by the weekly Journal du Dimanche on September 28, Sarkozy said the judgment "violated... all the limits of the rule of law" and described France as suffering a "serious drift" in its democracy. He vowed, "I will never acknowledge my guilt for something I did not do. I will fight until my last breath to have my honesty recognised. I will win." He also made it clear he would not seek a presidential pardon, noting, "To be pardoned, you must accept your sentence, and therefore acknowledge your guilt. I will never acknowledge my guilt."
Sarkozy’s allies have rallied to his defense. Henri Guaino, a former special adviser, called the conviction "a humiliation for the state and its institutions" in comments to RTL. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, herself convicted of embezzlement and claiming to be the target of a "witch hunt," drew parallels between her own legal troubles and those of Sarkozy. She warned that the five-year ban on Sarkozy standing for office could derail her own ambitions for the 2027 presidential election if she fails to win her appeal. Le Pen suggested, "A number of magistrates have a kind of scorecard where they try to pin down as many politicians as possible," during an appearance on LCI.
Former justice minister Éric Dupond-Moretti weighed in as well, warning against the trend of undermining democratic institutions through baseless accusations. Speaking to BFMTV, he said, "If you can prove a judge has abused their power out of hate, then challenge it with appeals. But you don’t fling accusations into the air without evidence." Meanwhile, recently ousted prime minister François Bayrou called for calm, stressing that judges should be protected and their decisions respected—even if some have questioned the "provisional execution" aspect, which requires Sarkozy to begin serving his sentence despite having lodged an appeal.
On the political left, Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure accused the right and far right of trying to "take down the judges" whenever one of their own is convicted, despite routinely demanding harsher justice for others. "Respect for judicial decisions that are perfectly reasoned is essential," Faure asserted.
The legal process continues to unfold. The court has ordered that Sarkozy be placed in custody at a later date, with prosecutors set to inform him on October 13, 2025, when he should go to prison. Notably, Sarkozy has previously been convicted in two separate trials but has always managed to avoid jail time—until now. The case centers on accusations that Sarkozy allowed his closest aides to seek campaign funds from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi for his successful 2007 presidential bid, a claim Sarkozy and his supporters vehemently deny.
With France already in the midst of political deadlock, the controversy surrounding Sarkozy’s conviction and the subsequent threats against judge Gavarino have only added fuel to the fire. The episode has laid bare the tensions between respect for judicial independence and the passions of political loyalty, as well as the challenges of upholding the rule of law in a climate of increasing polarization.
As investigations into the threats proceed and the political fallout continues, France faces a crucial test of its commitment to democratic norms and the protection of those who serve them. The coming weeks will reveal whether the country can navigate these stormy waters without losing sight of the principles that underpin its republic.