Sarkozy Freed After Three Weeks in Jail, Vows to Fight ‘Political Vengeance’

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been released from prison after serving three weeks of a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy, a punishment tied to claims that he sought campaign funds from Libya’s late leader Muammar Gaddafi.

A Paris court ruled Monday that the 70-year-old ex-president will remain under judicial supervision while appealing his conviction. Sarkozy is barred from leaving France and may be required to wear an electronic monitoring tag at home.

Appearing via videolink from La Santé prison, where he was reportedly mocked by fellow inmates, Sarkozy called his time behind bars “very hard” and “exhausting.”

“I had never imagined I would experience prison at 70,” he told the court. “This ordeal was imposed on me, and I lived through it. It’s hard, very hard. I would even say it’s gruelling.”

During a 50-minute hearing, Sarkozy insisted he had been the victim of political revenge and reiterated his innocence. “I will never confess to something I didn’t do,” he said.

On social media, he added:

“Truth will prevail. This is a fact that life teaches us. The end of the story remains to be written.”

The court found Sarkozy did not pose a flight risk, clearing the way for his conditional release. His wife, singer Carla Bruni, and his sons Pierre and Jean were present in court as the decision was announced.

Prosecutors allege that Sarkozy promised to help Gaddafi rehabilitate Libya’s international image in return for campaign funds, despite the regime’s pariah status following the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.

While the court said Sarkozy had conspired to secure the money, it found no proof he personally received or used it during his 2007 campaign. He was acquitted of separate charges of corruption and illegal financing.