France’s Top Court Upholds Sarkozy’s Conviction in 2012 Campaign Finance Case
France’s highest court has definitively upheld former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s conviction for illegal campaign financing during his failed 2012 re-election bid. The Court of Cassation rejected his appeal, finalizing a one-year prison sentence.
Key Takeaways
- Sarkozy convicted for overspending in his 2012 presidential campaign
- One-year prison sentence confirmed (6 months suspended)
- Sentence can be served at home with electronic monitoring
- Comes weeks after his release in separate campaign finance case
The court’s decision makes official Sarkozy’s one-year prison term, with half suspended, for exceeding legal spending limits. Under French law, the remaining six-month sentence can be served under house arrest with electronic surveillance.
This ruling arrives just two weeks after Sarkozy’s release from prison while awaiting appeal in a separate campaign financing investigation, marking another legal setback for the former president.



