This landmark verdict marks the first time a modern French president has been sentenced to prison time.
In a major surprise, the court ruled that the 70-year-old will be incarcerated despite his intention to appeal.
Sarkozy was among the early Western advocates of military action in Libya during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that spread across the Arab nations.
“What credibility can be given to such statements marked by the seal of vengeance?” Sarkozy asked in comments during the trial.
Stripped of the Legion of Honour
In June, Sarkozy was stripped of his Legion of Honour medal — France’s highest award — after his conviction in a separate case.
Previously, he was convicted for corruption and influence trading, which involved attempting to bribe a magistrate in 2014 to obtain details on a legal matter he was linked to.
He received a one-year electronic monitoring sentence, which he was allowed to end early in May due to his age, removing the bracelet after a little over three months.
In a separate case, Sarkozy was found guilty last year of illegally financing his 2012 reelection campaign. Accused of nearly doubling the legal spending limit, he was sentenced to a year in prison, with six months suspended.
Sarkozy has denied the allegations. He has appealed that verdict to the highest Court of Cassation, and that appeal is pending.
