He was was found guilty of participating in a plot to finance his 2007 presidential campaign with money from Libya in return for political favors. He had been sentenced to five years in prison and a €100,000 fine after being found guilty in the high-profile and unprecedented case involving a French head of state.

The 70-year-old, who served as president from 2007 to 2012 and was a hugely influential figure in right-wing politics has maintained his innocence. 

Appearing before the court via videolink, the former president described his 20 days behind bars as "very hard" but expressed gratitude to prison staff, calling their sense of humanity and compassion exceptional amid what he called a "nightmare."