The conviction of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has sparked strong reactions in France and abroad. Just minutes after the verdict was announced, his wife, model and singer Carla Bruni, publicly expressed her support on social media. “Hate will not win,” she wrote on Instagram, sharing a photograph of herself holding Sarkozy’s hand inside the courtroom. She added the phrase “Love is the answer” with a heart emoji, turning her words into a symbolic message of solidarity.
The Paris Criminal Court sentenced Sarkozy to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy, linked to alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from Libya. The ruling also included a €100,000 fine and did not grant leniency such as suspended sentencing or house arrest with electronic monitoring. According to the judges, the sentence must be served in full, marking a new and unprecedented chapter in the former president’s judicial history.
The 70-year-old conservative politician described the decision as an “injustice” and a “scandal,” vowing to immediately appeal. “I will fight until my last breath to prove my complete innocence,” he declared firmly. He also remarked defiantly: “If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison, but with my head held high.” Carla Bruni, who also reposted a supporter’s comment describing the ruling as a “total injustice,” has remained steadfast in her support.
Born in Turin in 1967, Bruni rose to international fame as a model in the Paris fashion world before establishing herself as a singer and songwriter. Since 2007 she has been in a relationship with Sarkozy, whom she married in 2008. During his presidency (2007–2012), Bruni served as France’s First Lady, balancing her official duties with her artistic career.
The couple has a daughter together, Giulia, born in 2011. The sentence against Sarkozy, which is not yet final, marks a historic moment in French politics and reignites debate about power, justice, and transparency in electoral financing. Meanwhile, his wife continues to stand firmly by his side, turning her message into a rallying cry against adversity: “Hate will not win.”
