Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to stand trial starting January 6, 2025, accused of receiving millions in illegal campaign financing from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for his successful 2007 presidential bid. The case, known as the "Libyan case," is one of the most significant political scandals in recent French history. It includes 12 other defendants, including several former government ministers, as they face charges of passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds, and criminal association. If convicted, Sarkozy could face up to 10 years in prison.

Sarkozy has long denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he did not accept illicit funds from Gaddafi. However, allegations suggest that in exchange for financial support, Sarkozy provided diplomatic favors to the Libyan regime, particularly concerning Gaddafi's former spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi, who had been sentenced in absentia for his role in the bombing of a passenger plane in 1989.

The saga unfolded after a document surfaced linking Gaddafi's regime to a pledge of €50 million (approximately $51.6 million) for Sarkozy's campaign, which was significantly over the legal campaign spending limit in France. This document was deemed authentic by investigators, despite Sarkozy's claims that it was a fabrication, and led to a decade-long investigation. The allegations were intensified by statements from Ziad Takieddine, a Franco-Lebanese businessman, who alleged he delivered cash from Libya to Sarkozy's campaign, although he later retracted these claims.

Beyond the Libyan case, Sarkozy has faced numerous legal challenges, having been convicted in separate instances for corruption and influence peddling, resulting in a one-year prison sentence, which he is serving under house arrest with an electronic bracelet. The legal ramifications continue to cloud Sarkozy's political legacy, with public trust in French political figures potentially at stake as the trial unfolds.

As testimony begins, many await the court’s examination of the numerous allegations surrounding Sarkozy's ties with Gaddafi’s government and the implications they carry for both their legacies. The trial is set to last until April 10, 2025, with a verdict expected later.

For further insights, read more about the case from AP News, SCMP, Le Monde, The Guardian, and AP News (Legal Overview).