Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is appealing a conviction on wire tapping charges | Photo: Le Monde

A French court will rule on wiretapping charges for Former President Nicolas Sarkozy today.

Sarkozy was initially convicted of the charges and sentenced to three years in prison but appealed the decision leading to today’s decision. He has also faced charges for other offenses such as illegal campaign financing. As the last president from the Republicans party, he remains a prominent figure in conservative French politics. The party has largely fallen into electoral irrelevance following the strengthening of far-right movements such as Marine Le Pen’s National Front and through incumbent President Macron’s ideological shift to the center-right. However, the unpopularity of Macron’s pension reforms may provide a chance for the party to regain lost ground in the country’s next parliamentary and presidential elections in 2027.

Nevertheless, the verdict on Sarkozy’s case is unlikely to have a significant impact on French politics or on his party. The decision may, however, affect his participation in any future campaigns of the party with the party more likely to distance itself with him if his conviction, along with other potential convictions are upheld.