Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to enter history this week, becoming the first head of state in France’s Fifth Republic to serve time in prison. Sarkozy, who was convicted last month for conspiring to finance his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, has been sentenced to five years behind bars and banned from holding public office.
The 70-year-old ex-president will be placed in solitary confinement at Paris’s La Santé prison, where he will remain on the top floor of the isolation wing under constant guard. His cell will be equipped with basic amenities, including a bed, desk, shower, toilet, and hot plate, with options for a fridge and television. Sarkozy will also be allowed two daily visits to one of the prison’s small gyms or exercise yards.
Despite the looming imprisonment, Sarkozy remains defiant. Speaking to La Tribune du Dimanche, he said, ‘I’m not afraid of prison. I’ll hold my head high, even at the doors of the penitentiary.’ He also revealed plans to use his time behind bars to write a book.
Sarkozy has received calls of support from a range of politicians, including President Emmanuel Macron, as well as two former French prime ministers, Edouard Philippe and Francois Fillon.
In delivering the verdict, Judge Nathalie Gavarino described Sarkozy’s actions as ‘exceptionally grave,’ noting they threatened public confidence in French institutions. Sarkozy maintains the case was politically motivated and has appealed the decision, insisting he will fight to defend both his innocence and his honor.
After leaving the Élysée Palace in 2012, Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni, the singer and former model, moved to an exclusive mansion in Paris’s Villa Montmorency, where he hosted high-profile events attended by international celebrities and business leaders. But as he begins his sentence, the former leader will dine alone in his cell, leaving behind the glamorous lifestyle of his past.
Sarkozy’s son, Louis, has called for a public rally at their Paris home on Tuesday, the day of Sarkozy’s imprisonment, describing it as a silent show of support for a man who devoted his life to his country.
Reporting by Lisa Lomami.
