Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Hezbollah says it is keen on Syria's security and stability, as well as the safety of its people
Hezbollah confirms that it has no presence or activity in Syria and has no connection to any incidents there
Hezbollah categorically denies the Syrian Interior Ministry's statement regarding allegations that one of the detainees in Homs Governorate is linked to the group
Ahmadian to bin Zayed: Ensuring the security of the Gulf and its neighboring states requires active participation and cooperation among regional countries
Ahmadian to bin Zayed: If the security of any country is threatened externally, the entire region will face challenges
Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, held a phone call with UAE counterpart Tahnoun bin Zayed to discuss recent developments
Al Mayadeen’s reporter in Gaza: Nearly 20 Palestinians were wounded in an Israeli strike targeting a tent sheltering forcibly displaced civilians in al-Qadisiyah, west of Khan Younis
The Al-Qassam Brigades targeted an enemy command and control site in the Qizan al-Najjar area, south of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, with mortar shells
Seventeen martyrs and several injuries in an Israeli bombing that targeted civilians at the al-Samer junction in central Gaza City
Informed Russian sources to Al Mayadeen: "Israel" occasionally asks Moscow to pressure Tehran to abandon its nuclear program, but Moscow refuses to engage in negotiations on the matter

France revokes Sarkozy's Legion of Honor over corruption conviction

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 15 Jun 2025 17:35
3 Min Read

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been stripped of the Legion of Honour after his corruption conviction was upheld, marking a historic fall from grace as he faces ongoing legal battles.

Listen
  • x
  • FILE - In this Monday Nov. 11, 2019 file photo, French former president Nicolas Sarkozy attends a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP, file)
    In this Monday Nov. 11, 2019, file photo, French former president Nicolas Sarkozy attends a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP, file)

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has officially been removed from the National Order of the Legion of Honour, France's most prestigious civilian decoration, following a definitive corruption conviction upheld by the nation's highest court in 2023. The revocation was confirmed in a decree published Sunday.

Sarkozy, who held office from 2007 to 2012, was found guilty in 2021 of attempting to bribe a magistrate in exchange for insider information related to a separate inquiry into his 2007 campaign finances. That verdict was upheld in December, with France's top court ordering Sarkozy to serve a sentence under electronic surveillance for one year. The electronic tag was removed earlier this month.

While the former president has launched an appeal at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the revocation of the award proceeded in line with regulations that automatically exclude recipients who are handed a prison sentence of a year or more. "An eventual ECHR ruling against France would imply reviewing the criminal conviction against [Sarkozy], as well as his exclusion from the order of the Legion of Honour," his lawyer, Patrice Spinosi, stated Sunday.

Related News

Trump's call to end Netanyahu trial fuels Israeli debate over pardon

Lebanon arrests ex-economy minister Amin Salam in graft probe

President Emmanuel Macron reportedly opposed the removal but was bound by the rules governing the award. He noted that Sarkozy had once held the nation's highest office and that "it was very important that former presidents are respected."

Read more: France's Sarkozy forced to wear monitor after losing court appeal

Sarkozy's legal challenges extend beyond the current conviction. He has already been sentenced in a separate case for overspending in his 2012 campaign and is currently facing trial over accusations that he received illegal funds from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for his 2007 campaign. The verdict in that case is expected in September, with prosecutors calling for a seven-year prison term.  Sarkozy has denied the allegations.

The former president now joins a short list of high-profile individuals stripped of the Legion of Honour, including Lance Armstrong and Harvey Weinstein. The only other French president to lose the distinction was Philippe Pétain, who led the Vichy regime during World War II and was convicted of high treason in 1945.

Read more: How Western media sidelined NATO war role in Libya catastrophe, mayhem

 

  • Corruption
  • Legion of Honor
  • Nicolas Sarkozy
  • France

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemeni air defenses repel substantial part of Israeli aggression

Yemeni air defenses confront Israeli aggression on Hodeidah

  • Politics
  • 7 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Trump announces Mexico, EU rariffs of 30%
US & Canada

Trump slaps trade partners, Mexico, EU, with 30% tariffs from Aug. 1

Deal struck to create new state of New Caledonia
Europe

France announces State of New Caledonia, except with a twist

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, center, inspects a live-fire shooting training in Hsinchu County, Taiwan, Thursday, July 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US demands allies' plans in event of Taiwan war erupting

Israeli settlers kill American-Palestinian visiting West Bank
Palestine

Israeli settlers kill American-Palestinian visiting West Bank

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS