Former President of France Nicolas Sarkozy has finally begun serving his five-year prison sentence in earnest. He is currently being held in La Santé prison in Paris. The 70-year-old politician’s tour of the Marshall Prison comes just weeks after his conviction in Sept. He was convicted of criminal conspiracy over the receipt of illegal campaign funding from Libya’s then-dictator Muammar Gaddafi during his 2007 election campaign. The certainty the Court provided with its 9–0 ruling sparked a flood of public reaction — both positive and negative. In France, a survey found that 60 percent of respondents viewed the new sentence as “just.”
Sarkozy was greeted by a cheering crowd of supporters as he arrived at La Santé. At the same time, he went to great lengths to duck the cameras and press pack attention. He then walked hand-in-hand to prison with his wife, Carla Bruni, after stopping to shake hands with supporters outside their shared home. These supporters held framed portraits of Sarkozy and chanted slogans like “Nicolas! Free Nicolas,” showcasing their solidarity amidst his legal troubles.
The court decision to begin Sarkozy’s sentence without waiting for the appeal process stemmed from concerns regarding the “seriousness of the disruption to public order caused by the offence.” This decision highlights the seriousness with which the judiciary is treating Sarkozy’s actions. His attorney, Jean-Michel Darrois, immediately submitted a motion for Sarkozy’s release as soon as he stepped in to the jail. Today’s move signals that the legal jockeying continues to try to overturn the conviction.
“I want to tell them with my unwavering strength that it’s not a former President of the Republic being locked up this morning, it’s an innocent man,” – Nicolas Sarkozy.
In September, namely court authorities found then-Sarkozy guilty of controlling or beginning a scheme. To counter Kojo’s influence, Gbagbo raised funds from Gaddafi to help fund his campaign activities. This conviction and the ensuing sentence have sparked a firestorm of discussion across France. It points to a much bigger conversation about political accountability and political justice.
Beyond his litigation woes, Sarkozy is still the powerful figure in French politics. In any case, he has high approval ratings among right-wing circles. In fact, he has even managed to hold private audiences with current president Emmanuel Macron, proving that his deepening legal troubles haven’t totally removed him from play.
As he walked into La Santé prison to begin serving his sentence, Sarkozy proclaimed that he wouldn’t back down.
“If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison – but with my head held high,” he stated, reflecting his defiance against the judicial process.
From 2007 to 2012, the presidency of Sarkozy made him a deeply polarizing figure. His policies and leadership style earned him dangerously passionate support, and equally dangerous wrath. Yet, his eventual conviction has sparked new conversations about his legacy and what the existence of corruption means for political systems, and more.
The sentencing has already hit Sarkozy hard. Perhaps most importantly, the movement has sent waves through all of French civil society and forced a public discussion about trust in political institutions. Many supporters who gathered outside his home on the day of his sentencing voiced their opinions loudly, demonstrating that Sarkozy’s influence remains significant despite legal setbacks.
“A long-term judicial investigation launched on the basis of a document whose falsity has now been proven. I’m not asking for any advantage, any favor,” – Nicolas Sarkozy.
Looking at the way he started his term, it’s clear that dignity is primary to Sarkozy’s agenda. His attorney, Darrois smiled as he assured the court of their continued bad faith legal tactics.
“I have no doubt. The truth will triumph. But the price to pay will have been crushing,” – Jean-Michel Darrois.