Sarkozy Faces New Charges of Conspiracy with Libyan Ruler Gaddafi

Gaddafi’s residence in Tripoli was destroyed by UN airstrikes directed towards Libya in 2011.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was placed under “formal investigation” on October 16 for allegedly conspiring with the late Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi to fund Sarkozy’s 2007 election bid. Prosecutors claim that Sarkozy accepted €50 million from the Libyan strongman in violation of French law.

The latest charge against Sarkozy, of “membership in a criminal conspiracy,” was administered on October 12 following a round of interrogations. It adds to a lengthy list of 2018 charges including “passive corruption,” “benefitting from embezzled public funds,” and “illegal campaign financing.” 

The controversy came to the surface after a 2011 interview in which Gaddafi expressed distaste over the French president’s recognition of Libyan opposition protests. “Sarkozy is mentally deficient… It’s thanks to me that he became president… We gave him the funds that allowed him to win,” he said in a recorded interview with a French journalist.

Gaddafi also alleged that Sarkozy had requested funding while he was still France’s interior minister. 

Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi’s youngest son, stated in a 2011 Euronews interview that “Sarkozy must first give back the money he took from Libya to finance his electoral campaign.” 

“The first thing we want this clown to do is to give the money back to the Libyan people. He was given the assistance so he could help them, but he has disappointed us,” he said.

The investigative website Mediapart released a document in 2012 indicating that Sarkozy received up to €50 million from Gaddafi. The document was signed by Moussa Koussa, Gaddafi’s chief spy. 

An April 2013 prosecutorial proceeding likewise placed Sarkozy associate Claude Gueant under fire for alleged forgery in an unreported €500,000 transfer. Although Gueant claimed that the funds were spent on two expensive Dutch paintings, investigators found linkages between Gueant and former Gaddafi aide Bashir Saleh. Alexandra Djouhri, a French businessman, was also found to be an intermediary between Gaddafi and Sarkozy. 

Private intermediaries appear to be Sarkozy’s go-to. Ziad Takieddinne, a French-Lebanese businessman, also told Mediapart in a 2016 interview that he gave Sarkozy suitcases filled with millions in 2006 and 2007.