A highly symbolic decision has been made in France: former President Nicolas Sarkozy has been officially expelled from the Legion of Honour, the highest state award, following his final verdict in a corruption case. The decree was published in the Journal officiel on Sunday, AFP reports.
Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, was also stripped of the Order of National Merit. This makes him the second French president in history to lose the Legion of Honour. The first was Marshal Philippe Petain, who was convicted in 1945 of treason and collaboration with the Nazis.
The decision was made automatically after the French Court of Cassation upheld the verdict in the case of attempted bribery of a high-ranking official, Judge Gilbert Azibert, in December 2024. Along with Sarkozy, his lawyer Thierry Herzog and Azibert himself were also prosecuted. All three were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, one of which was without the right to conditional release.
The case relates to the events of 2014, when Sarkozy tried to obtain confidential information from the court through his lawyer, promising Azibert a prestigious position in Monaco.
General François Leconteur, Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour, who signed the decree of expulsion, said that disciplinary sanctions are key to maintaining the “exemplary status” of the order. He acknowledged that such disgrace is “extremely painful” for the defendants, but the law requires that those who receive a sentence of one year or more be automatically stripped of their awards.
Experts note that this decision could have a significant impact on the public perception of Sarkozy, who remains one of the most influential figures in French right-wing politics. Despite his legal troubles, he has repeatedly hinted at a political comeback.
Sarkozy is currently under investigation in several other cases, including the illegal financing of his 2007 election campaign by the Gaddafi regime. The trial in this case is expected in early 2025, and the verdict is expected in September.
