Payam Javan: Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday after a Paris court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy tied to efforts by his aides to secure campaign financing from Libya ahead of his 2007 election victory. Although acquitted of corruption and illegal campaign financing charges, the ruling means Sarkozy, 70, will face jail time even if he appeals — a verdict tougher than many observers anticipated.

The court determined that Sarkozy knowingly allowed associates to seek funds from officials linked to late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi between 2005 and 2007, while serving as interior minister. However, the judge said there was no proof Sarkozy directly struck a deal with Gaddafi or that Libyan money reached his campaign. Several of his close allies were also convicted, including Claude Gueant, who was found guilty of corruption, and former Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux, convicted of conspiracy.

Despite multiple convictions in recent years and the loss of his Legion of Honour, Sarkozy remains an influential political voice in France. He has recently met with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and expressed support for the far-right National Rally’s place in the “republican arc.” Sarkozy is still awaiting a final ruling on a separate conviction over illegal financing of his 2012 re-election campaign, adding to a string of legal battles that continue to shadow his post-presidency.