France’s Sarkozy charged in Libya campaign funding probe

Oct 16, 2020

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is facing a new charge as part of an inquiry into allegations he funded his successful 2007 campaign with cash supplied by the regime of former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi. 

Prosecutors today charged the 65-year-old Sarkozy with “membership in a criminal conspiracy,” adding to existing charges from 2018 of “passive corruption,” “benefiting from embezzled public funds” and “illegal campaign financing.” 

Prosecutors are investigating whether Sarkozy’s presidential campaign was bankrolled by Gadhafi, whom the French leader controversially invited for a state visit after Sarkozy’s election in 2007. The Libyan dictator was then toppled and killed in 2011 following a NATO-backed uprising that France helped lead.

French law requires “serious or consistent evidence” before placing someone under formal investigation. Last month, a Paris appeals court threw out Sarkozy’s appeal, paving the way for him to stand trial.

Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, has long denied taking money from the slain Libyan leader. He wrote on his Facebook page today that “the truth will eventually triumph.”