Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began his five-year prison sentence for criminal conspiracy on October 21, 2025. In light of his imprisonment, Life & Style breaks down everything to know about who Sarkozy is and why he was arrested.
Who Is Nicolas Sarkozy?
Sarkozy is a French politician who served as the President of France from 2007 to 2012.
Running as a conservative, Sarkozy beat Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal in the election’s second-round run-off, according to the Associated Press.
During his term, he dealt with the 2008 U.S. financial system crisis that impacted the global economy. Sarkozy ran for reelection in 2012, though ended up losing to Socialist candidate François Hollande.
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Sarkozy is a polarizing figure in the French political landscape, and his outspoken admiration for money earned him the nickname “President Bling-Bling,” per the Associated Press.
He faced backlash when he infamously celebrated his 2007 election victory with rich friends at the Brasserie Fouquet’s on the Champs-Élysées, while their extravagant celebration continued by being jetted off to holiday aboard a billionaire industrialist’s yacht.
Is Nicolas Sarkozy Married?
Sarkozy was married to Elysée Palace when he began his term as president, though the couple divorced within a year and he sparked romance rumors with supermodel-turned-singer Carla Bruni just weeks later.
He and Bruni later wed in 2008, and they are still together today.
Why Was Nicolas Sarkozy Arrested?
In September 2025, Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in jail for criminal conspiracy, according to CNN. He was found guilty for his involvement in a scheme to finance his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from Libya, which the North Africa country agreed to in exchange for diplomatic favors.
Sarkozy appealed his conviction, though he is expected to remain in solitary confinement or in the “VIP wing” of La Santé prison complex for the time being. The wing is typically reserved for high-profile prisoners who are facing fears for their safety, according to the outlet.
Additionally, Sarkozy’s legal team requested he be granted an early release from jail, according to CNN. The court must decide whether or not they will grant the request within the next two months.
Nicolas Sarkozy Has Insisted He’s Innocent
Despite reporting to prison, Sarkozy has insisted that he’s innocent of the crime he’s been accused of.
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“As I prepare to step inside the walls of La Santé prison, my thoughts go out to the French people of all walks of life and opinions,” he wrote via X on October 21, 2025, which has been translated from French to English. “I want to tell them with my unwavering strength that it’s not a former president of the Republic being locked up this morning, it’s an innocent man.”
He added that he will “continue to denounce this judicial scandal,” though said he is “not to be pitied because my wife and children are by my side, and my friends are countless.”
