Nicolas Sarkozy's Appeal Trial Set for March

The Paris Court of Appeal announced on Thursday that it will begin hearing the appeal of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy concerning the financing of his 2007 election campaign, with sessions scheduled from March 16 to June 6.

This announcement follows a September 25 ruling in which Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in prison; he served 20 days at La Santé prison before being released last Monday, remaining under judicial supervision.

The Paris Criminal Court found Sarkozy guilty of facilitating communications between his associates and the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to secure illegal funding for his presidential campaign in 2007.

Following his release, Sarkozy stated on the social media platform X:

"The law has been applied. I will now prepare for the appeal trial. My focus is on only one goal, which is to prove my innocence. The truth will prevail. It is a clear lesson learned from life."

Notably, Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, is the first former French president in modern history to be imprisoned following a conviction, despite his firm denial of any wrongdoing.