Nicolas Sarkozy in police custody over Gaddafi funding probe
Former French president’s 2007 campaign allegedly financed by Libyan dictator

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is being held in police custody over suspected illegal campaign financing linked to late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Investigators in the Paris suburb of Nanterre are questioning Sarkozy about whether his successful 2007 election campaign received €50m (£44m) in illicit funds originating from the dictator, who was killed by rebels in 2011 at the close of the Libyan Civil War.
Such a sum “would be more than double the legal campaign funding limit at the time” and violate French rules against foreign financing, the Associated Press says.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
This is the first time Sarkozy has been quizzed by police since a judicial inquiry was opened in 2013, according to French newspaper Le Monde.
The investigation centres on claims by former members of the Libyan regime. Sarkozy, who served as president between 2007 and 2012, denies any wrongdoing.
The allegations first emerged after he spearheaded an international military campaign to topple the Libyan regime in 2011.
Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, said at the time: “Sarkozy has to give back the money he accepted from Libya to finance his electoral campaign. We financed his campaign and we have the proof.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
In 2016, French-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine claimed that he had personally delivered suitcases containing €5m (£4.4m) in cash to Sarkozy and his former chief of staff Claude Gueant.
Sarkozy’s former aide Alexandre Djouhri was arrested in London in January in connection with the investigation. He has since been granted bail and will face an extradition hearing next month.
-
October 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include half-truth hucksters, Capitol lockdown, and more
-
Jaguar Land Rover’s cyber bailout
Talking Point Should the government do more to protect business from the ‘cyber shockwave’?
-
Russia: already at war with Europe?
Talking Point As Kremlin begins ‘cranking up attacks’ on Ukraine’s European allies, questions about future action remain unanswered
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
The France-Indonesia push for an Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution
Talking Points Both countries have said a two-state solution is the way to end the Middle East conflict
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago