The French Public Prosecutor’s Office asked this Monday morning for release of former President Nicolas Sarkozy, under judicial supervision, report several French media outlets, including “Le Monde”.
The decision — which will be announced at 12:30 pm, Continental Portugal time — comes after a hearing in which Sarkozy participated via videoconference, from prison, and in which he stated that the experience has been “difficult, very difficult”, thanking employees for their “humanity” during this period.
If the request is accepted, the former President may serve the sentence on parole pending a decision on the appeal.
Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in prisonon September 25th, for criminal association in the case of illegal financing in his 2007 presidential campaignallegedly with funds from the Libyan regime of Muammar Gaddafi.
He was acquitted of charges of passive corruption and embezzlement of fundsas it was not possible to prove that Libyan resources were intended for its campaign. This process also involves 11 other people, including two former ministers of the Sarkozy Government, being the fifth trial of the former President in the last five years.
From October 21st, Sarkozy Serves sentence in La Santé prison in Parisbecoming the first former French head of state to enter a prison to serve his sentence.
However, is not treated like an ordinary prisoner: remains in isolation in a special wing with around 20 cells and is permanently accompanied by two armed agents due to threats received. This measure, considered unprecedented, generated criticism from unions, who classified it as “unwise” and “humiliating” for prison system employees.
The former President maintains his innocence and denounced the process as an attack on the rule of law. During this period, it received support from political sectors, including visits by President Emmanuel Macron and Minister of Justice Gérald Darmaninwho justified the security measures as necessary to protect a former President of the Republic.
Sarkozy already served his sentence last December for corruption and influence peddling in the case of wiretapping, having been proven that he tried to bribe a judge and carried out influence peddling in exchange for confidential information about an investigation into the financing of his 2007 campaign.He served one year under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.