Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was sent to a Paris prison on Tuesday, marking the first time in over fifty years that a former head of state in the country has faced incarceration. This unprecedented event has sent ripples through French society and its political landscape.
Mr. Sarkozy’s conviction stems from charges of conspiring to seek illicit funding for his 2007 presidential campaign from the regime of former Libyan strongman Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. He received a five-year sentence last month, though many believe he will not serve the full term.
The ruling has ignited a furious debate across France. Judges involved in the high-profile case have been subjected to online harassment, including alarming death threats, as reported by Jacques Boulard, president of Paris’s Court of Appeal. Laure Beccuau, the Paris public prosecutor, publicly condemned this ‘outburst of hate’ and confirmed that an investigation into the threats is underway.
Known for his vigorous energy—fueled by a consistent morning run—and sharp intellect, Mr. Sarkozy is a former lawyer who rapidly ascended the ranks of French politics. Even after leaving office in 2012, he maintained considerable influence within his conservative party and even with current President Emmanuel Macron, whose 2022 presidential bid he openly endorsed.
Adding to his woes, Mr. Sarkozy has also been stripped of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest distinction. He vehemently asserts his innocence and has repeatedly challenged the validity of the verdict.
His confinement will take place in a cell at La Santé, a prison located in southern Paris. For his safety, prison administration head Sébastien Cauwel confirmed in a radio interview that Mr. Sarkozy will be held in solitary confinement. Like any other inmate, he will be permitted three visits per week and two daily walks.
“It is not me who is humiliated, but France, by these practices that are so contrary to the rule of law,” Mr. Sarkozy declared in an interview with a conservative magazine just two days after his conviction, branding the sentence as “as unjust as it is shameful.”
Earlier this month, during a gathering with close friends and colleagues, Mr. Sarkozy, who has Jewish ancestry, reportedly drew parallels between his situation and that of Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish army captain falsely accused of espionage in 1894. “The end of the story is not written yet,” he was quoted as saying.
Since leaving office, Mr. Sarkozy has been embroiled in numerous high-profile legal battles, resulting in convictions for corruption, influence peddling, and campaign spending violations.
However, the current case stands out as the most severe, evident in the lengthy sentence and its complex nature. Last year, a documentary titled “No one understands anything about it”—a phrase attributed to Sarkozy himself regarding the case—was released by investigative journalists, highlighting the public confusion surrounding the allegations.
Although Mr. Sarkozy was granted a period to arrange his personal affairs before imprisonment, judges included a crucial provision in the verdict: he cannot be released even if he appeals, which is a departure from the usual French legal practice. This provision has become increasingly common, appearing in 58 percent of jail sentences in 2023, according to a Justice Ministry report.
The trial’s outcome was swiftly condemned by conservative politicians. François-Xavier Bellamy, a European Parliament lawmaker for the Republicans, called it a “political verdict,” while Geoffroy Didier, the party’s vice president, asserted it was a blatant attempt to “humiliate” the former president.
In response to the escalating controversy, President Macron issued a social media post condemning attacks against judges as “unacceptable.” Nevertheless, Macron’s office confirmed he met with Mr. Sarkozy just last Friday, a move that stirred further discussion.
The French daily Le Monde, in a pointed editorial, cautioned that Mr. Sarkozy’s defiant reaction was dangerously fueling a “Trumpization of the debate in France,” particularly at a time when judicial systems worldwide are facing increasing political pressure.
Mr. Sarkozy’s ongoing legal challenges have also intensified a national debate surrounding far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who was convicted of embezzlement in April and received a five-year electoral ban. Her supporters similarly alleged judicial tampering with electoral processes, despite overwhelming evidence against her.
A recent poll revealed that over 70 percent of French citizens were shocked by the threats made against judges, with 58 percent believing the verdict in Sarkozy’s case was impartial. This indicates a strong public desire for judicial independence and fairness.
Public sentiment for Mr. Sarkozy reportedly swelled in the days leading up to his imprisonment. His son organized a demonstration in front of their home on Tuesday morning to show support. Prominent figures, including Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, expressed “a lot of sadness” for Mr. Sarkozy in a radio interview, stating he would visit him in prison. Culture Minister Rachida Dati described the ex-president as “like family.”
Mr. Sarkozy’s lawyer, Jean-Michel Darrois, announced plans to immediately file a request for early release, a process that typically takes two months for evaluation. In line with the standard six-month timeframe for appeal trials, Mr. Sarkozy’s appeal is scheduled to conclude before the end of March, following Ms. Le Pen’s appeal which is expected by mid-February.
