Sarkozy in Court: Between Outrage and a Detailed Defense

This Monday, January 20, Nicolas Sarkozy appeared before the Paris criminal court to address accusations of Libyan financing for his 2007 presidential campaign. At the heart of the debate: his visit to Libya in October 2005, when he was Minister of the Interior. According to the prosecution, this meeting with dictator Muammar Gaddafi marked the beginning of a “corruption pact.”

A Visit Described in Detail

During the hearing, Presiding Judge Nathalie Gavarino asked: “At any point under the tent, did you discuss a request for financing?” Visibly emotional, Nicolas Sarkozy replied, “Madam, it is painful for me to answer such a question. It sullies me.” Providing a meticulous account of the visit’s circumstances, he denied any illicit agreement, dismissing the accusations as “grotesque.”

Sarkozy recalled the events: he arrived in Tripoli at 1:00 PM, met Gaddafi under a tent in the presence of a delegation, and used an official interpreter. “There was never a one-on-one meeting. We were more than two meters apart, and the interpreter was a close associate of Jacques Chirac,” he emphasized, sarcastically adding, “Am I supposed to ask for campaign financing through Chirac’s interpreter? It’s absurd to the point of insanity!”

Accusations Called “Ludicrous”

The former president also rejected any involvement by Ziad Takieddine, who has been identified by prosecutors as a key intermediary. “He wasn’t there. No one saw him. It’s completely ludicrous!” Sarkozy declared. He also denied any connection to Abdullah Senussi, Libya’s former intelligence chief, who is suspected of orchestrating negotiations related to this alleged “corruption pact.”

In front of the judges, Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his frustration: “Is there even the slightest concrete evidence that justifies me having to constantly defend myself?” He concluded by reiterating, “I didn’t receive a single Libyan cent for my campaign. If there had been, it would have been found.”

The trial, which continues until April 10, could result in up to 10 years in prison, a €375,000 fine, and a five-year disqualification from holding public office. However, Sarkozy remains firm: “The corruption pact under the tent is impossible. That is the truth.”