The Court of Cassation, France’s highest court, has upheld a decision against former President Nicolas Sarkozy, confirming his conviction for illegal campaign financing related to his 2012 reelection bid. This ruling rejects the grounds for appeal put forth by Sarkozy and his associates, including claims of procedural irregularities and discrepancies in campaign expense calculations. The court’s decision underscores the application of Article L113-1 of the electoral code, emphasizing accountability beyond the legal spending limits (JURIST).
Sarkozy, along with his campaign manager and aides, faced allegations of orchestrating a campaign with expenditures reaching €42.8 million, significantly overstepping the lawful limit of €22.5 million. The extensive overspend, facilitated by fabricated invoices through the Bygmalion public affairs firm, became known as the “Bygmalion affair.” The meticulous unraveling of concealed campaign expenses by the appeals court allowed for this decisive reaffirmation.
The Court of Cassation meticulously examined the asserted grounds for appeal. One ground centered on the alleged participation of a supplementary judge during proceedings, which was ultimately deemed appropriate as the judge had not engaged in the deliberation process. Additional contentions regarding differing assessments of campaign expenses by the Constitutional Council and the appeal court were dismissed. The court concluded that the appeals court had considered relevant arguments, effectively establishing complicity among Sarkozy’s aides.
This conviction adds to Sarkozy’s legal challenges, as he remains under conditional release amid ongoing appeals in a separate case involving allegations of soliciting campaign funds from Libya in 2007. The implications of this ruling resonate beyond Sarkozy, signaling a stringent adherence to electoral laws and accountability at the highest levels of political campaigns in France (Reuters).