French court rejects ex-President Sarkozy’s request to merge sentences

ISTANBUL

The Paris Criminal Court on Monday rejected former President Nicolas Sarkozy's request to merge his sentences in two separate cases.

Although the decision can still be appealed, the court ruled that Sarkozy must serve the custodial portion of his sentence in the so-called Bygmalion case, according to the broadcaster Franceinfo.

The decision came after Sarkozy's legal team submitted a request seeking to merge his sentence in the Bygmalion campaign financing case with a penalty he had already served in the separate Bismuth wiretapping case.

His lawyers argued that the six-month custodial portion of the Bygmalion sentence should be considered fulfilled, as Sarkozy previously wore an electronic monitoring bracelet last year in connection with the Bismuth conviction.

In February 2024, the Paris Court of Appeal sentenced Sarkozy to one year in prison, including six months to be served under alternative arrangements, including under an electronic bracelet, for the illegal financing of his failed 2012 presidential campaign. France’s Court of Cassation rejected his appeal in November, making the ruling final.

The case marked Sarkozy’s second definitive conviction, following a three-year sentence — including one year under electronic monitoring — for corruption and influence peddling in the Bismuth affair. That verdict became final in December 2024. Sarkozy wore an electronic bracelet from Feb. 7 to May 12, 2025, before being granted parole due to his age.

Sarkozy is also scheduled to return to court on March 16 for the appeal trial in the Libyan campaign financing case, in which he was sentenced at first instance to five years in prison for criminal association.