Delivering the verdict on Thursday, the judge said Sarkozy went ahead with organising the rallies after being warned in writing of the risk of going over legal spending limits. Seen as one of the best orators on the French right, he had delivered thunderous speeches from slick, purpose-built sets in huge venues with big audiences, accompanied by specially composed music as renowned directors filmed the extravaganzas for TV and beamed images on to giant screens around the room.
A series of other party members or events organisers were found guilty of further charges of setting up or benefiting from a fake billing scheme to cover millions of euros in excess spending. Although Sarkozy is the first former modern French leader to receive a prison sentence, he is not the first to be found guilty in court.
In , Jacques Chirac, then aged 79, received a two-year suspended sentence for corruption committed while mayor of Paris. Sarkozy is facing other ongoing legal investigations. France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy easily won the leadership of his conservative UMP party on Saturday in what many think is a first step on his road to a political comeback aimed at winning back the presidency in Sarkozy came first in the party vote with We must be united and devote ourselves to finding new solutions for France," Sarkozy wrote on Facebook shortly after results were announced.
Sarkozy, 59, finally revealed the worst-kept secret in French politics in September when he announced his political comeback , presenting himself as the saviour of his bitterly divided conservative opposition party. The energetic former leader had criss-crossed the country to drum up support for his candidacy to lead the party, all the while slamming the "mediocrity" of Hollande's deeply unpopular Socialist government.
Pollsters expected Sarkozy to sail through the election despite his much-heralded return to politics largely seen as having fallen flat, with a persistent tangle of legal woes related to campaign financing and influence-peddling — and a few new ones — continuing to drag him down.
However, his victory still does not guarantee him a shot at toppling Hollande in presidential elections in Since his return to politics two years ago, Mr Sarkozy has seen his dominance of the centre-right leach steadily to his rivals. He banked on a hard-right agenda, sailing close to the policies of far-right leader Marine Le Pen on issues like security, immigration and French identity.
Whether it is his policies that have apparently alienated France, his previous record as president, or the scandals that have dogged him since he left, Mr Sarkozy is out of next year's presidential race before it has truly begun. With approval ratings for France's Socialist president at historic lows, this primary contest is seen by some as an unofficial first round in France's presidential election, as whoever wins the centre-right nomination is expected to battle far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the run-off for the Elysee Palace next year.
Mr Fillon, an anglophile whose wife is Welsh and who admires Margaret Thatcher, said the result showed a strong movement of hope was under way. He had promised deep market reforms and was initially not seen as the top contender. However he has enjoyed a late surge in polls. Francois Fillon's rival in the run-off was regarded as the frontrunner for most of the primary race. A year-old former prime minister with a technocratic image, Alain Juppe had campaigned as a moderate and a unifying figure in the aftermath of jihadist attacks.
He is embroiled in a high-profile scandal over the breach of campaign spending limits in the election. In September a judge ruled that Mr Sarkozy should stand trial in the case. Turnout in the primary first round was higher than anticipated, with almost four million people taking part. Le Pen stalks French centre-right contest.
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