Nicolas Sarkozy illegal campaign financing conviction upheld

The former French president will have to serve a six-month term with an electronic bracelet, plus another six months suspended.

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He was found guilty of overspending on his campaign, then hiring a PR firm named Bygmalion to cover it up.

Sarkozy, 70, was handed the one-year sentence in 2024 of which six months were suspended, meaning they could be served by wearing an electronic tag instead of going to jail.

He has always denied all allegations.

Prosecutors in the case said Sarkozy's UMP party spent nearly double the €22.5m (£19.4m) cap on his campaign, splurging on lavish campaign rallies and events.