Ex-French leader Sarkozy relinquished of prestigious Legion of Honour accolade

France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy has had his Legion of Honor medal revoked after his conviction for corruption and influence peddling during his time as head of state. This decision, announced on Sunday, aligns with the rules of the prestigious honor. Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, has been embroiled in several legal cases since leaving office. He was found guilty by a Paris court in 2021 and an appeals court in 2023 for attempting to bribe a magistrate for information about a legal case involving him. As a result, he was sentenced to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet for one year. Sarkozy also faced allegations of receiving millions of dollars from Libya for his 2007 presidential campaign, which he denies. Prosecutors requested a seven-year prison sentence, with the verdict expected in September. Sarkozy’s revocation of the Legion of Honor medal makes him the second former head of state to lose the distinction, after Philippe Petain, the leader of Vichy France convicted of treason in 1945. Other prominent figures, including Harvey Weinstein and Lance Armstrong, have also had their Legion of Honor awards revoked. Despite retiring from public life in 2017, Sarkozy continues to play an influential role in French conservative politics.

Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/06/16/former-french-president-sarkozy-stripped-of-legion-of-honour-medal/