Nicolas Sarkozy, the First French President in Prison: Part 2
- Mateusz Lovera
- Mar 17
- 4 min read
In my previous article, I introduced Nicolas Sarkozy, his debut in politics, and the beginnings of the friendship between Sarkozy and Muammar Gaddafi. It left off in 2007, following Sarkozy’s visit to Libya in 2005 and the French Presidential elections. To summarize, the last article showed the promises and secret plans; this part will focus on fulfilling them, and how this relationship eventually broke down, culminating in war—the end of Gaddafi’s life and the political turning point for Nicolas Sarkozy.
In May 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy became French President. One of the main events in his early presidency started in July 2007, following the affirmation by the Libyan Supreme Court of the death penalty for four Bulgarian and Palestinian nurses. The French President, without notifying the European Union, which was negotiating with Libya, reached an agreement for their release. The wife of the President at the time, Cécilia Sarkozy, accompanied by Claude Guéant, was sent to Sofia to facilitate their release. The choice to send the First Lady instead of a diplomat is still questionable, especially considering their divorce later that October. Perhaps Sarkozy aimed to give her a prominent role to boost her image during his presidency; this is only a personal observation. Regardless, the event bolstered Sarkozy’s image in his first months as President, portraying him as a protector of innocent nurses, while Gaddafi appeared open to negotiation and dialogue with Western countries.
Following this incident, Muammar Gaddafi was invited to France. This invitation, amid accusations during the trials, was part of what has been described as a “corruption pact.” In exchange for financial support, Sarkozy would help Libya gain international recognition and improve its image, moving away from its status as a “terrorist state,” as explained in the first article. On 10 September 2007, just a month after his inauguration, Sarkozy received Gaddafi at the Élysée Palace. The reception caused public outrage for several reasons.
The first scandal was the timing of the visit. France had a new Minister of Human Rights, Rama Yade, appointed as part of Sarkozy’s campaign promises to protect human rights. Yade criticized Gaddafi’s arrival on LCI, arguing that, even with major military and nuclear contracts about to be signed, it was unacceptable. She told Le Parisien: “Colonel Gaddafi must understand that our country is not a doormat on which a head of state, terrorist or not, can wipe their bloody feet.” Yade was eventually forced to soften her statement.
The second issue was the length and extravagance of the visit. State visits in France typically last three days, but Gaddafi’s lasted five. He made specific demands, including installing a Bedouin tent in the gardens of the Hotel Marigny, opposite the Élysée Palace, the symbol of the French Republic. His itinerary included the Louvre, Château de Versailles, a boat trip on the Seine, and a visit to UNESCO, where he delivered a controversial speech criticizing the West’s treatment of African migrants, while human rights abuses continued in Libya. He also visited the National Assembly, but his reception was largely boycotted by parliamentarians. The visit caused significant traffic disruption and public frustration. Families of the victims of the 1989 UTA DC-10 bombing protested, demanding dialogue with the President. The combination of public inconvenience and the presence of a figure responsible for past terrorist acts fueled widespread discontent.
To summarize, Sarkozy negotiated with Gaddafi behind the EU’s back, secured the nurses’ release, and presented himself as a defender of human rights. He invited the Colonel on Human Rights Day, despite Gaddafi’s record of terrorism and human rights violations, transformed Paris into a private stage for the dictator, initially refused to meet the victims’ families, signed contracts with Libya, and finally accepted meetings with the families.
The French Foreign Minister, known for his strict stance on human rights, described the visit as “pitoyable” (“pitiful/pathetic”). Sarkozy attempted to mitigate the situation by publicly lecturing Gaddafi on potential human rights progress. For Gaddafi, this was perceived as betrayal. He reportedly responded by refusing to honor contracts worth over €10 billion. Consequently, France’s influence in Libya declined, and projects such as a nuclear reactor led by Areva were abandoned.
According to WikiLeaks documents from the U.S. Embassy, the visit was described as the “honeymoon” between the two heads of state.
Though seemingly minor, this event marked the turning point in their relationship. Sarkozy viewed Libya as an economic investment, while Gaddafi believed Sarkozy would enhance Libya’s international standing. Instead, the relationship soured, ultimately leading to UN intervention in Libya and the end of the Gaddafi regime. History might have unfolded differently if the “honeymoon” had lasted.
Bibliography
Alexandre, T. (2007) ‘Rama Yade : "La France n'est pas un paillasson"’, Le Parisien, 10 December. Available at: https://www.leparisien.fr/archives/rama-yade-la-france-n-est-pas-un-paillasson-10-12-2007-3291409068.php
COURTIAL, J. (2022) Visite du colonel Kadhafi : gestion difficile. [Podcast] Radio France: France Inter, 24 May. Available at: https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/podcasts/l-edito-politique/visite-du-colonel-kadhafi-gestion-difficile-5755399
HugoDecrypte-Grands formats,2025,Nicolas Sarkozy est en prison : le « pacte de corruption » Sarkozy/Kadhafi expliqué (Fabrice Arfi), Available at: https://youtu.be/PkI_Dgs5Y38?si=qXToCHLvmJ8gDide
Imineo Documentaires,31/03/2017 ,Le président et le dictateur - Sarkozy & Kadhafi - Documentaire,Available at:
Investigation,26/09/2025, Sarkozy-Kadhafi:une histoire INTERDITE, Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzZWsZIexGE
MEDIAPART (2011) ‘From honeymoon to war: what US cables said about French courtship of Gaddafi’, Mediapart, 30 March. Available at: https://www.mediapart.fr/en/journal/international/300311/honeymoon-war-what-us-cables-said-about-french-courtship-gaddafi
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