• Sarkozy's conviction for illegal campaign financing of his 2012 re-election bid has been upheld by France's top court.
• The Court of Cassation ruled his one-year sentence, with six months suspended, is now definitive.
• He is barred from leaving France and will wear an electronic bracelet for part of his sentence.
• This ruling comes shortly after Sarkozy's release from jail where he served time for other legal issues.
• Sarkozy plans to publish a memoir detailing his prison experience.

France's top court, the Court of Cassation, has upheld former President Nicolas Sarkozy's conviction for illegal campaign financing related to his failed 2012 re-election bid, solidifying a one-year prison sentence, half of which is suspended and could be served under monitored conditions such as wearing an electronic bracelet. This ruling is seen as a severe blow to Sarkozy's legacy, coming just two weeks after his release from La Santé prison where he had served 20 days for a different case involving funds from Libya during his 2007 campaign, according to Reuters, Le Monde, and South China Morning Post.

The conviction stems from allegations that Sarkozy's party exceeded the legal campaign spending limit of €22.5 million (approximately $25.5 million), reportedly spending nearly €43 million by using a public relations firm, Bygmalion, to disguise actual expenses. Sarkozy has consistently denied any wrongdoing, referring to the accusations as "lies," according to Los Angeles Times and Africanews.

The ruling is definitive under French law, with no further appeals allowed, confirming earlier convictions from 2021 and 2024 regarding the illegal financing charges. Sarkozy's legal troubles are extensive, having also been previously convicted on corruption charges related to efforts to influence legal proceedings, which have left a significant mark on his political and personal reputation, detailed in reports from BBC and Le Monde.

Sarkozy's upcoming memoir, titled "Diary of a Prisoner," is set to release on December 10, where he expresses his thoughts and experiences during his incarceration. He has voiced that “prison is a nightmare,” and has reflected on the psychological challenges faced while imprisoned, according to South China Morning Post and Los Angeles Times.