Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to be released from prison after spending 20 days behind bars, following a judge’s decision on Monday to free him pending an appeal hearing over alleged Libyan campaign funding.
During a court session earlier in the day, prosecutors supported Sarkozy’s request for release, describing his continued detention as unnecessary. Sarkozy, 70, appeared via video link from La Santé Prison in Paris, wearing a dark blue jacket and flanked by his lawyers. He described his imprisonment as “gruelling” and “a nightmare,” while expressing gratitude to the prison staff for their “exceptional humanity.”
Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, was convicted in September of seeking illicit campaign funding from the late Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi and sentenced to five years in prison. He began serving the term on October 21, becoming the first former head of an EU state to be jailed. His legal team immediately filed an appeal.
Prosecutor Damien Brunet urged the court to approve the release under judicial supervision, citing that “the risks of collusion and pressure on witnesses justify the request for release.” Sarkozy’s wife, singer and model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and two of his sons were present in court to show support.
The appeal hearing is scheduled for March. Under French law, Sarkozy is once again presumed innocent pending the outcome of the appeal.
