Sarkozy Released from Prison Pending Appeal

Former French President Freed Under Judicial Supervision

Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president, has been released from La Santé prison in Paris after serving just three weeks of his five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy. The 70-year-old politician was freed on November 10, 2025, following a decision by the Paris Court of Appeal that granted him release under judicial supervision while he awaits his appeal trial.

The court determined that continued detention was not legally justified under French law, finding that Sarkozy presented no flight risk and there was 'no risk of concealment of evidence, pressure or collusion'. However, the court imposed strict conditions on his release, including a ban on leaving French territory and a controversial specific prohibition against contacting current Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin.

Prison Experience Described as 'Nightmare'

During his brief incarceration, Sarkozy was held in continuous solitary confinement on the top floor of the isolation wing at La Santé prison due to security concerns. Via videoconference during the hearing, the former president described his prison experience as 'heavy, very heavy, that applies to every prisoner. I would even say it's exhausting'. He added that prison staff 'make this nightmare bearable'.

Sarkozy faced death threats on his first day in prison, with video footage showing verbal threats being made as he arrived at the facility. His placement in solitary confinement was reportedly due to his status as a former president and ongoing security threats.

Legal Background and Convictions

Sarkozy began his prison sentence on October 21, 2025, after being convicted on September 25 for his role in a criminal conspiracy related to the alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from Libya's Muammar Gaddafi regime. The conviction marked the culmination of years of legal battles over accusations that his campaign accepted millions in cash from the Libyan leader.

This was not Sarkozy's first conviction. In 2021, he was found guilty of illegally financing his failed 2012 re-election campaign and was required to wear an ankle monitor for one year. Later that year, he was convicted of corruption and influence peddling for promising a magistrate a job in Monaco in exchange for information about another investigation against him.

Appeal Process and Future Proceedings

The date for Sarkozy's appeal trial has not been officially announced, but sources close to the case told AFP that the hearing is expected to take place in March 2026. Meanwhile, France's highest court will rule separately on November 26, 2025, regarding his conviction for the illegal financing of his 2012 campaign.

French legal experts note that under French law, defendants are generally allowed freedom pending appeal unless there's a demonstrated risk of flight or witness tampering. The court's decision to release Sarkozy reflects this legal principle, though the specific ban on contacting the justice minister is unusual and appears to reference his previous conviction for corruption involving a justice official.

Hours after the court's ruling, Sarkozy was spotted arriving at his Paris home, marking a dramatic turn in the legal saga that has consumed the former president since he left office in 2012.