Challenges Faced by Nicolas Sarkozy: Obstacles and Turning Points

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Nicolas Sarkozy's life and career.

Nicolas Sarkozy, a French politician, held the office of President of France from 2007 to 2012. His presidency was marked by significant events including the global financial crisis, which he attempted to mitigate through national and international efforts. He also pursued reforms in areas such as pensions, immigration, and labor laws. Sarkozy's policies and leadership style often sparked debate, reflecting a blend of conservative and liberal approaches. Since leaving office, he has remained a prominent, though sometimes controversial, figure in French politics.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1981: Failed to Graduate

In 1981, Nicolas Sarkozy failed to graduate from Sciences Po due to insufficient command of the English language.

1994: Budget Deficit

In 1994, Nicolas Sarkozy submitted a budget to the parliament, with a yearly budget deficit equivalent to six percent of GDP.

1999: RPR Leadership

In 1999, Nicolas Sarkozy took the leadership of the Neo-Gaullist party RPR after Philippe Séguin resigned, but later lost it after poor election results.

2005: UMP Presidency and European Constitution Referendum

In 2005, Sarkozy, as president of UMP, saw the party's membership increase significantly. He supported a "yes" vote in the French referendum on the European Constitution, but the "No" vote ultimately prevailed.

2005: Civil Unrest and Controversial Remarks

In 2005, during civil unrest, Sarkozy faced accusations of provoking the situation. His calling young delinquents a "rabble" and suggesting the cleansing of minority suburbs with a Kärcher sparked criticism. After the accidental death of two youths that ignited the riots, Sarkozy blamed "hoodlums" and gangsters, drawing further censure.

August 2007: Implementation of Biometric Profiling Program in Airports

On 7 August 2007, Sarkozy's government issued a decree to implement a voluntary biometric profiling program, 'Parafes', of travelers in airports using fingerprints. The CNIL protested against the recording of fingerprints and the interconnection between the SIS and the FPR.

December 2007: Protests Against Gaddafi's Visit

In December 2007, Muammar Gaddafi's official visit to Nicolas Sarkozy triggered a strong wave of protests against the President in France.

2007: Alleged Libyan donation to Sarkozy's presidential campaign

In 2007, Saif-al-Islam Gaddafi alleged that the Libyan state donated €50 million to Sarkozy's presidential campaign in exchange for access and favors. This claim surfaced during the 2011 Libyan Civil War.

2007: Alleged illegal campaign donation

In 2007, according to claims published by Mediapart in July 2010, Sarkozy and Eric Woerth allegedly received illegal campaign donations in cash from Liliane Bettencourt, as stated by her former accountant Claire Thibout.

April 2008: Opposition to NATO Membership for Ukraine and Georgia

In April 2008, Sarkozy opposed George W. Bush in granting membership in NATO for Ukraine and Georgia during the organization's Bucharest summit, forming a common front with Germany's Angela Merkel and Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

August 2008: Hervé Eon arrested for displaying offensive sign against Sarkozy

In August 2008, Hervé Eon was arrested for displaying a sign with Sarkozy's own words "Casse-toi pov' con" at an anti-Sarkozy demonstration. He was fined, but the fine was reduced to a symbolic amount, interpreted as a defeat for the prosecution.

2008: Response to the Financial Crisis

As a result of the 2008 financial crisis, Sarkozy returned to state interventionism, declaring that "laissez-faire capitalism is over" and denouncing the "dictatorship of the market". He also pledged to create 100,000 state-subsidized jobs.

September 2009: Warning at the U.N. Climate Summit

At the U.N. Climate Summit on 22 September 2009, Sarkozy warned that "We are on the path to failure if we continue to act as we have."

October 2009: Sarkozy accused of nepotism

In October 2009, Sarkozy faced accusations of nepotism for allegedly assisting his son, Jean, in his attempt to become the head of EPAD, the public body managing France's largest business district.

July 2010: Mediapart accuses Sarkozy of receiving illegal campaign donations

In July 2010, Mediapart published an article in which Claire Thibout, Liliane Bettencourt's former accountant, accused Sarkozy and Eric Woerth of receiving illegal campaign donations in 2007 in cash.

July 2010: Sarkozy proposes stripping foreign-born French citizens of citizenship

In July 2010, Sarkozy proposed a policy to strip foreign-born French citizens of their citizenship if they acquired it at their majority and are convicted of threatening the life of a police officer or other serious crimes. This proposal was met with criticism from various sources, including The New York Times, political opponents like Martine Aubry, and legal experts such as Robert Badinter, who deemed it unconstitutional.

March 2011: France actively engages against Gaddafi

In March 2011, Nicolas Sarkozy, after facing criticism for his initial reluctance to support revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, and influenced by Bernard-Henri Levy, advocated for France's active involvement against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Sarkozy demanded Gaddafi's resignation amidst the Libyan civil war. On March 10, 2011, Sarkozy welcomed emissaries from the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) to the Elysée Palace and promised them a no-fly zone over Libya and French military aid. France played a key role in the subsequent UN resolution.

2011: Gaddafi's son alleges Libyan donation to Sarkozy's 2007 campaign

During the 2011 Libyan Civil War, Saif-al-Islam Gaddafi stated that the Libyan state had donated €50 million to Sarkozy's 2007 presidential campaign in exchange for access and favors by Sarkozy.

May 2012: Sarkozy Loses Presidential Election

In May 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy lost the presidential election runoff to François Hollande, receiving approximately 48.38% of the vote compared to Hollande's 51.62%.

July 2012: French police raid Sarkozy's residence and office

In July 2012, French police conducted a raid on Sarkozy's residence and office as part of an investigation into claims of illegal political campaign financing.

2012: Defeated in Presidential Election

In 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy was defeated by François Hollande in the presidential election.

2012: Overspending in Sarkozy's 2012 presidential campaign

Sarkozy's 2012 presidential campaign was scrutinized, leading to his indictment in February 2016 on charges of "illegal financing of political campaign" due to overspending.

2012: Sarkozy's failed 2012 re-election campaign linked to Bygmalion scandal

Sarkozy's failed 2012 re-election campaign was scrutinized in May 2021 when his second criminal trial began, related to the Bygmalion Scandal involving allegations of diverting millions of euros intended for the campaign and using a PR firm to cover it up.

June 2014: Gilbert Azibert questioned in connection to Sarkozy investigation

In June 2014, Gilbert Azibert, a senior judge at the Court of Appeal, was questioned in connection to the investigation involving Sarkozy, who was accused of promising Azibert a prestigious role in Monaco in exchange for information about alleged illegal campaign funding.

July 2014: Sarkozy detained for questioning over alleged influence peddling

In July 2014, Sarkozy was detained for questioning by police regarding claims that he had promised a role in Monaco to judge Gilbert Azibert in exchange for information about the investigation into alleged illegal campaign funding.

February 2016: Sarkozy indicted on illegal financing charges related to 2012 campaign

In February 2016, Sarkozy was indicted on "illegal financing of political campaign" charges related to overspending in his 2012 presidential campaign and retained as witness in connection with the Bygmalion scandal.

November 2016: Sarkozy eliminated from Republican party nomination contest

In November 2016, despite attempting to challenge for the presidency in 2017, Sarkozy was eliminated from the Republican party nomination contest.

2016: British Parliament Report on Libya Intervention

In 2016, a British Parliament report criticized the 2011 military intervention in Libya, stating it was based on "erroneous assumptions" about the threat to civilians. The report suggested Nicolas Sarkozy's motivations were to serve French interests and improve his political standing in France.

2017: Sarkozy's attempted presidential challenge

Despite the events that occurred in July 2014, Sarkozy attempted to challenge for the presidency in 2017, but was unsuccessful.

January 2018: Alexandre Djouhri arrested in connection to Libyan funds laundering

In January 2018, British police arrested Alexandre Djouhri, an associate of Sarkozy, on a European Arrest Warrant. He had refused to respond to a French judicial summons for questioning over allegations he helped launder Libyan funds on behalf of Sarkozy.

November 2020: Sarkozy's first trial begins

In November 2020, Sarkozy's first trial started, relating to the accusations from July 2014.

November 2020: Trial of Nicolas Sarkozy begins, postponed due to health reasons

On November 23, 2020, the trial of Nicolas Sarkozy commenced, where he faced charges of corruption and influence peddling for allegedly attempting to bribe a judge. However, the trial was postponed until November 26 due to a co-defendant's health concerns.

2020: Sarkozy Charged with Corruption

In 2020, Nicolas Sarkozy faced corruption charges by French prosecutors in two cases, including allegations of Libyan interference in the 2007 French elections, focusing on excessive campaign costs and payment methods.

March 2021: Sarkozy found guilty of corruption in wiretapping case

In March 2021, a court in Paris found former French President Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of corruption and trading in influence related to a wiretapping case involving magistrate Gilbert Azibert and Sarkozy's former lawyer Thierry Herzog. Sarkozy was sentenced to three years, with two suspended, and one in prison, but appealed the ruling.

May 2021: Second criminal trial begins for Sarkozy in Bygmalion scandal

In May 2021, Sarkozy's second criminal trial began, related to the Bygmalion Scandal involving allegations of diverting millions of euros intended for his 2012 re-election campaign and using a PR firm to cover it up.

September 2021: Sarkozy Receives Second Corruption Conviction

In September 2021, Nicolas Sarkozy received a second corruption conviction, resulting in a one-year sentence to be served under home confinement. His lawyer announced plans to appeal the decision.

September 2021: Sarkozy convicted in Bygmalion scandal

In September 2021, Sarkozy was convicted along with his co-defendants in the Bygmalion scandal and received a one-year prison sentence, with the option to serve it at home with an electronic bracelet.

2021: Corruption Conviction

In 2021, Nicolas Sarkozy was convicted of corruption in two separate trials.

May 2023: Appeal Loss

In May 2023, Nicolas Sarkozy lost an appeal in his corruption case.

2023: Sarkozy's appeal denied and public office ban issued

In 2023, Sarkozy's attempt to appeal a decision was denied, resulting in a three-year ban from holding public office. However, he retains the option of serving his sentence from home using an electronic bracelet.

February 2024: Revised Sentence

In February 2024, Nicolas Sarkozy's campaign finance sentence was revised to six months in prison and six months suspended.

February 2024: Sarkozy to serve prison sentence for campaign overspending

In February 2024, an appeals court in Paris upheld a lower court decision requiring Sarkozy to serve his sentence for the campaign overspending conviction. The one-year sentence was revised to six months in prison and six months suspended.

December 2024: Court of Cassation rejects Sarkozy's appeal in Bygmalion scandal

In December 2024, the Court of Cassation rejected Nicolas Sarkozy's appeal in cassation related to the Bygmalion scandal, making his conviction final. He announced that he would refer the matter to the European Court of Human Rights.

December 2024: Sarkozy Sentenced to Prison for Corruption

On December 18, 2024, Nicolas Sarkozy was definitively sentenced to three years in prison, with one year to be served under electronic monitoring, for corruption and influence peddling. He has appealed the decision to the European Court of Human Rights.

September 2025: Criminal Conspiracy Conviction

In September 2025, Nicolas Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy over his "corruption pact" with Muammar Gaddafi.

September 2025: Sarkozy Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy

On 25 September 2025, Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy related to alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign, though he was acquitted of other charges.

September 2025: Sarkozy convicted of criminal association in Libyan financing case

On September 25, 2025, Sarkozy was convicted of criminal association in the Libyan financing case and sentenced to five years in prison and a €100,000 fine. While acquitted of other charges, the court ruled the sentence enforceable pending appeal. This verdict occurred two days after the death of key accuser Ziad Takieddine.