France’s highest court, the Cour de Cassation, on Wednesday upheld former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s conviction for illegal campaign financing during his unsuccessful 2012 re-election campaign.

Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, was initially convicted in 2021 and again in 2024 for overspending during the campaign and attempting to obscure costs through a friendly public relations firm. The court confirmed a one-year non-custodial sentence, half of which is suspended.

The ruling comes shortly after the 70-year-old politician was briefly jailed on October 21 in a separate case concerning efforts by close aides to secure Libyan funds for his 2007 presidential bid. He was released earlier this month pending appeal.

Sarkozy has consistently denied wrongdoing, insisting he was not involved in campaign logistics or the allocation of funds. Prosecutors argued that although he did not approve every expense personally, he was aware of the overspending, making him legally responsible.

As reported in Reuters, n response to Wednesday’s ruling, Sarkozy’s lawyers said they are considering taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights, keeping open the possibility of further legal action.