Sarkozy expressed surprise at being given a real prison sentence.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on September 27 that despite constant pressure from judges during the proceedings in the case of financing his 2007 election campaign at the expense of the Libyan authorities, he was not ready to receive a real prison sentence.

"I expected anything but this, I admit. This has gone even further than I could have imagined. All the borders of the rule of law have been violated," he said in an interview for the newspaper Le Journal du dimanche.

Sarkozy said he did not understand the immediate execution of the sentence until the appeal was considered. According to him, the court's argument about the "risk of violating public order" is not justified. He stressed the absence of claims to his tax returns for 20 years and assured that he did not intend to flee the country or run for president.

The former president noted that the verdict was aimed at humiliating him, which, in his opinion, also humiliates France. Sarkozy added that the court recognized the probable falsity of Mediapart's publication, which served as the beginning of the investigation.

He declared his innocence, his willingness to serve time in prison, and his refusal to apply for clemency, as this implies an admission of guilt.

"In order to be pardoned, a person must accept his sentence and, therefore, admit his guilt. I will never admit my guilt for something I did not do," Sarkozy said.

Presidential term: Sarkozy's sentence intensifies the political crisis in France

The former head of state was sentenced to five years in the "Libyan case", but acquitted of the most serious charges.

On September 25, a Paris court sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison in the case of illegal Libyan financing of his election campaign. The Franceinfo agency clarified that Sarkozy was also fined 100,000 euros.

At the same time, the former French leader was acquitted of charges of concealing embezzlement of public funds and passive corruption, which includes failure to perform official duties in exchange for material rewards. Later, Sarkozy announced that he was going to appeal the decision of the Paris court.

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