Former president Sarkozy's faces justice in historical trial
09 January 2025
The former French president Nicolas Sarkozy goes on trial this week for the biggest political financing scandal in modern French history. He is accused of partially financing his 2007 presidential campaign, which led to his election, with funds from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, allegedly in exchange for helping him return to the international stage.
Sarkozy faces up to 10 years in prison. Since losing his re-election bid in 2012, he has been the target of several criminal investigations. Last month, he was convicted of attempting to bribe a judge, becoming the first former French president sentenced to actual detention – though he will serve it under house arrest with an electronic bracelet.
 | Juliette Ovigneur If Donald Trump is the first US president to be tried and convicted, Europe is not exempt from this growing wave of judicial accountability. Beyond the numerous convictions of now-dead former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, other significant trials have taken place. In 2020, the Croatian former prime minister was sentenced to eight years in prison. Last year, Malta's ex-prime minister, Joseph Muscat, was charged with corruption. A recent reform in Austria strengthened anti-bribery law, and now former chancellor Sebastian Kurz is facing an ongoing investigation for corruption. |
Welcome to The European Correspondent
Europe lacks true European media: in Germany alone, there are more media devoted exclusively to football than news outlets specialising on Europe. The established players mainly focus on Brussels and European institutions. The European Correspondent aims to change that. We cover the whole of Europe and write for a community of citizens who want to look beyond their own national borders. Without European journalism, there is no European civil society.
〉Read our manifesto
〉The stories we would like to write for you
Become a donor!
The European Correspondent is fully funded by its readers. We can only produce the newsletter with your support - and work towards the bigger project: building true European media. Donate now!
With your help, we can create true European journalism. Thank you!
We are non-profit. Every donated € goes directly into The European Correspondent.