This is a historic conviction for a former president. This Wednesday, former president Nicolas Sarkozy was definitively convicted in the wiretapping affair. On appeal, he received a three-year prison sentence, two of which were suspended, for corruption and influence peddling. He will have to wear an electronic bracelet for one year.
“I would like to provide my full support to my friend Nicolas Sarkozy in the ordeal he is going through today,” reacted the mayor of Nice and loyal supporter of former head of state Christian Estrosi. “In addition to being my friend, Nicolas is a statesman who has always served France and the French with integrity and strength of conviction. (…) We miss his vision and his leadership and would be very useful to us in the current period,” he continued.
On the left, political figures did not fail to congratulate the decision. “This court decision is good news, it corresponds well to the image we have had of the character for a long time. A real delinquent,” tackled Philippe Poutou, figure of the New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA).
“That gives him a little chance for the reshuffle,” quipped the communist senator from Paris Ian Brossat.
“It seems obvious that in view of this definitive condemnation the former President should be excluded from official ceremonies and all public missions,” judged the New Popular Front (NFP) deputy from Yvelines Benjamin Lucas.
In the wake of this conviction, Nicolas Sarkozy denounced an “justice” and announced that he wanted to refer the case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
