TI’s blog “When Power is on Trial” examines former President Sarkozy’s 2025 corruption and illegal campaign financing appeal as a pivotal test of judicial independence and accountability for the powerful

Convicted of criminal conspiracy for allegedly securing illegal funding from Libya for his 2007 presidential campaign, Sarkozy has appealed the ruling, which also dismissed certain corruption and campaign finance charges. TI France, acting as a civil party, is challenging these dismissals and advocating for stronger political finance rules. The case exposes the challenges of investigating complex financial crimes, including nearly two decades of delays, gaps in resources, weak deterrence, and declining public trust. Attacks on judges by Sarkozy and his supporters illustrate how political pressure…