Sarkozy guilty - Ex -French president sentenced to prison for corruption

Paris. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to three years in prison for bribery and unauthorized influence. Of these, two years will be suspended, as the French news agency AFP reported on Monday by the Paris Palace of Justice. The 66-year-old probably does not have to go to prison because the punishment can be served at home under electronic surveillance.

Sarkozy would like to appeal against his conviction for bribery and illegal influence. This was announced by his lawyer Jacqueline Laffont in Paris on Monday. The verdict was "extremely hard" and "unjustified," said Laffont.

The judges also sentenced Sarkozy's long-time lawyer Thierry Herzog and lawyer Gilbert Azibert to three years in prison, also with two years in prison. The negotiations in court caused a sensation in France at the end of last year.

Sarkozy is still a leadership icon for civil rights

According to the 2014 indictment, Sarkozy tried to obtain investigative secrets about Duke from the lawyer Azibert. Essentially, this behavior endangered the independence of the judiciary, argued the public prosecutor.

The conservative Sarkozy ruled the Elysée Palace from 2007 to 2012. He had rejected the allegations to court at the end of last year. Numerous supporters of civil rights still consider him a leadership icon, although he no longer has any offices.

The allegations are based on the use of dismissed telephone calls between the politician and the lawyer Herzog. There had been violent arguments about the legality of this abrasion. The procedure is regarded as one -off. However, it is not the first time that a former president is convicted. Sarkozy's predecessor Jacques Chirac was sentenced to a probation penalty of two years as a Mayor of Paris as a Paris mayor.

Sarkozy's time in the Élysée was characterized by affairs about wealthy friends, excessive government members or nepotism. The former hope of the right had started his career as a mayor. In 2012 he finally lost to the socialist François Hollande. After his resignation, he wanted to become President again five years later - but failed in the party's internal selection process.

Next process against Sarkozy in mid-March

Sarkozy faces a legal hurdle. Because of the costs for his unsuccessful re -election campaign, there will be another process in the middle of the month. For years, the judiciary has also been investigating alleged payments for Libya for the successful 2007 presidential election campaign. Sarkozy rejects all the allegations here.

"Sarko", as it is often called, even triggered speculation about a possible political comeback. Last summer he released the memoir band "Le Temps des Tempêtes" ("The Time of Storms"), which became the bestseller. President are protected in France by extensive immunity.