Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will begin serving his one-year sentence under electronic surveillance, starting February 7, after a judge’s ruling last week. The 70-year-old leader was convicted for corruption and influence peddling, marking a significant moment in French political history.
Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, was convicted of trying to illegally influence a magistrate over a wiretapping case that involved his election campaign in 2007. He was given a three-year prison sentence, with two years suspended. He would therefore serve the remainder of his term at home wearing an electronic ankle monitor instead of in jail.
The verdict has prompted mixed reactions in France, with many arguing that the punishment is too lenient for a high-profile corruption case while others maintain Sarkozy has faced significant legal scrutiny for years. In the meantime, his legal team continues to battle separate campaign finance allegations in cases still ongoing.
The embattled head of state aside, Sarkozy remains a respected figure in the French Conservative Politics, a lot of interest being taken for how this particular historic judgment may well affect the play of politics subsequently.
