France's Highest Court Upholds Sarkozy's Corruption Conviction; Ex-President Sentenced to One Year Under Electronic Monitoring

Dec 18, 2024, 01:51 PM

France's highest court, the Cour de Cassation, has upheld the conviction of former President Nicolas Sarkozy for corruption and influence peddling in the 'Affaire des écoutes', also known as the 'Affaire Bismuth'. Sarkozy is definitively sentenced to three years in prison—two years suspended and one year to be served under electronic monitoring—a first for a former French head of state. He is required to wear an electronic bracelet for one year instead of serving time in prison. His legal team has announced plans to appeal the decision to the European Court of Human Rights. Additionally, he is banned from holding public office for three years.