The Paris court has ordered the release of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, allowing him to return home while he appeals his conviction on charges of conspiracy and illicit campaign financing.

The case stems from efforts by his close aides to procure funds for his successful 2007 presidential bid from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Sarkozy was found guilty in September and was sent to prison on October 21 to begin serving a five-year sentence.

The judges who convicted him pointed to the "extraordinary seriousness" of the crime, and his incarceration at Paris' La Sante prison marked a stunning downfall for the former head of state.

However, the court ruled on Monday that Sarkozy does not represent a flight risk and therefore does not need to remain imprisoned during the appeals process. The decision for release was based on specific criteria, like the risk of flight, and is not an indication of the likely success of his appeal. The public prosecutor had recommended his release pending the appeal.

The former conservative leader, who was president from 2007 to 2012, told the court that his time in jail had been a difficult experience.

Sarkozy has consistently denied wrongdoing, calling himself a victim of revenge and hatred. He did not attend Monday's hearing in person but was taking part via video link from prison.

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He told the court he would respect any demand from the judiciary if he was freed. "I'm French, sir. I love my country. I’m fighting for the truth to prevail. I will comply with all the obligations imposed on me, as I always have," he said.

Speaking of being in jail, he added, "It’s tough. Really tough — as it must be for any detainee. I’d even say it’s draining."

Sarkozy's release is under strict judicial supervision, which includes a ban on leaving France and a prohibition against talking to any justice ministry official.

The 70-year-old former conservative president was found guilty of criminal conspiracy for the efforts by his close aides to procure funds for his 2007 presidential bid from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, but was acquitted of all other charges, including corruption and receiving illegal campaign financing.

Sarkozy's legal saga: Illegal financing and Libya

Sarkozy's legal saga opened in 2011 when the regime of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya alleged it had provided funding for Nicolas Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign, triggering investigations that would span more than a decade. Formal charges followed between 2018 and 2020, with prosecutors accusing Sarkozy of concealing misappropriated public funds, illegal campaign financing, and criminal conspiracy.

In January 2025, the main trial in Paris began, focusing on the alleged pact between Sarkozy, his close aides, and the Libyan regime to channel funds for his 2007 campaign, even if no transfers could be definitively traced directly into the campaign coffers. Over the course of three months of hearings, evidence included testimony from Libyan officials, wiretaps, and recordings pointing to clandestine meetings and other suspicious financing routes.

On September 25, 2025, a Paris court found Sarkozy guilty of criminal conspiracy, sentencing him to five years in prison and ordering a ban on holding public office for five years. Notably, the court acquitted him on the specific charges of corruption, embezzlement of Libyan public funds, and illegal campaign financing, stating that while links to the Libyan regime were well-documented, “no Libyan euro, not even a Libyan cent” could be definitively shown to have entered his campaign.

On October 21, 2025, Sarkozy reported to La Santé prison in Paris to begin serving his sentence. His lawyers maintain that he has consistently cooperated with judicial authorities and poses no flight risk, and are currently seeking his conditional release while the appeal process unfolds.