Sarkozy seeks merged sentences to avoid another electronic bracelet

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has petitioned a Paris court to allow two of his final prison sentences to run concurrently, a move that could prevent him from again wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet, French broadcaster BFMTV reported Monday. The Paris Criminal Court is examining a request from Sarkozy's lawyers to merge his sentence in the Bygmalion campaign financing case with the penalty he already served in the separate Bismuth wiretapping affair.

Legal Argument for Concurrency

Sarkozy's defense argues that the six-month custodial portion of the Bygmalion sentence should be considered fulfilled, as the former president already 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 under alternative arrangements—for the illegal financing of his failed 2012 presidential campaign. France's Court of Cassation rejected his appeal in November, making the ruling final.

Previous Conviction and Bracelet

The Bygmalion case represents 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 February 7 to May 12, 2025, before receiving parole due to his age. Under French law, sentence mergers are permitted under specific conditions, including when offenses were committed before a final conviction and when penalties are of the same nature.

Additional Legal Proceedings

The court's decision on the merger request is expected at a later date and may be appealed. Meanwhile, Sarkozy faces additional legal jeopardy, 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. The accumulated legal battles mark a dramatic fall for the former president who led France from 2007 to 2012 and remained a influential figure in conservative politics.