Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been officially stripped of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest distinction, following his conviction for corruption and influence peddling, marking a historic fall from grace for the once-dominant political figure.
The decision, published in the government’s Official Bulletin on Sunday, enforces a key rule of the prestigious order that excludes anyone convicted of a serious crime or sentenced to at least one year in prison.
Sarkozy, 70, becomes only the second former French head of state to lose the honour. The first was Marshal Philippe Pétain, who was stripped of the distinction in 1945 following his conviction for high treason due to his collaboration with Nazi Germany during World War II.
The move deals another blow to Sarkozy, who has been engulfed in legal trouble since leaving office in 2012. Last year, France’s top court upheld his conviction for attempting to bribe a judge in exchange for confidential information related to a separate investigation. He was sentenced to three years in prison, with one year to be served under electronic surveillance — a first for a former French president.
In a separate case, Sarkozy was also convicted in 2023 for illegal campaign financing during his failed 2012 re-election bid. He is currently facing trial in a third case involving alleged illicit funding from the regime of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Prosecutors accuse Sarkozy of accepting tens of millions of euros in campaign contributions from Gaddafi in 2007 as part of a so-called “corruption pact” — allegations he strongly denies.
Sarkozy has argued that members of Gaddafi’s inner circle fabricated the claims in retaliation for his support of the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that led to the Libyan leader’s overthrow and death.
If convicted in the Libya-related trial, which is ongoing, Sarkozy could face up to seven years in prison and a five-year ban from holding public office. A verdict is expected in September.
Despite retiring from active politics in 2017, Sarkozy — a leading figure in the centre-right Republicans (LR) party — continues to wield influence behind the scenes and reportedly maintains regular contact with President Emmanuel Macron. Until now, Macron had refrained from revoking Sarkozy’s decoration, though as head of the order, he holds final authority over such decisions.
The rules of the Legion of Honour are clear:
“Any person sentenced for a crime or to a definitive prison term of at least one year is excluded.” Sarkozy was awarded the honour in 2007, shortly after assuming office.
With input from Al Jazeera
