By Sylvie Corbet
The months-long trial of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy over the alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign is shedding light on France’s surprising back-channel talks with the government of then-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Family members of terrorist attacks sponsored by Gadhafi’s regime have told the court they suspect that Sarkozy was willing to sacrifice the memories of their loved ones in order to normalize ties with oil-rich Libya almost two decades ago.
The trial, which started in January, ends Tuesday with Sarkozy’s lawyers’ closing arguments. The verdict is expected at a later date.
French prosecutors requested a seven-year prison sentence for the 70-year-old former leader. Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, has denied all wrongdoing.
Key moments in the trial focused on talks between France and Libya in the 2000s, when Gadhafi was seeking to restore diplomatic ties with the West. Before that, Libya
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