Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been released from jail, three weeks into a five-year sentence for participating in a criminal conspiracy linked to his 2007 election campaign.
Sarkozy, 70, will remain under strict judicial supervision and is barred from leaving France ahead of an appeal trial scheduled for next year. On 21 October, he was sentenced to five years for allegedly attempting to fund his campaign using money from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. His legal team immediately filed for his early release.
Following his release, Sarkozy stated on social media that his “energy is focused solely on the single goal of proving my innocence,” adding: “The truth will prevail… The end of the story is yet to be written.”
He left La Santé prison in Paris just before 15:00 local time and arrived at his home in western Paris shortly after. His lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, described the release as “a step forward,” noting preparations for the appeal trial in March.
One condition of his release is that Sarkozy must not contact any other witnesses involved in the “Libyan dossier” or any justice ministry personnel.
During his incarceration, he was visited by Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, prompting 30 French lawyers to file a complaint citing a conflict of interest due to Darmanin’s past friendship and professional ties with Sarkozy.
Sarkozy described his solitary confinement as “gruelling” and “a nightmare,” insisting he never sought Gaddafi’s money and would “never admit to something I haven’t done.” He praised prison staff for their “exceptional humanity,” making his time behind bars “bearable.”
Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and two of his sons, Jean and Pierre, attended the court proceedings in support.
Notably, Sarkozy is the first French former leader jailed since World War Two, following Philippe Pétain’s treason sentence in 1945. During his imprisonment, he stayed in an isolation cell with basic amenities including a toilet, shower, small TV, fridge, and one hour of daily outdoor exercise. Two bodyguards were stationed nearby due to a perceived threat against him.
Sarkozy served as president from 2007 to 2012 and has faced multiple criminal investigations since leaving office, including wearing an electronic tag after a December conviction for attempting to bribe a magistrate in a separate case.
