Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has begun a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of conspiring to raise illegal campaign funds from Libya’s late ruler, Muammar Gaddafi, a moment that marks a historic turning point in French politics and a striking fall from grace for the man who once led Europe’s second-largest economy.
- •On Tuesday morning, the 70-year-old former head of state left his Paris home hand in hand with his wife, Carla Bruni, as supporters gathered and sang the French national anthem.
- •He arrived shortly after at La Santé prison, where he will serve his sentence- the first French leader to be jailed since World War II.
- •Sarkozy, who governed France from 2007 to 2012, was found guilty last month of conspiring with close aides to solicit millions in illegal donations from Gaddafi’s regime during his 2007 presidential campaign.
Before heading to prison, Sarkozy issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), insisting he was the victim of political revenge. “It is not a former president of the Republic being jailed this morning, but an innocent man,” he wrote. “Truth will prevail.” His legal team has already filed an appeal and requested early release, a decision expected to be reviewed within two months.
Although he was cleared of personally handling the funds, the court determined that he played a central role in orchestrating the operation.
Inside La Santé, Sarkozy will be held in isolation, away from the general prison population- a security measure often applied to high-profile inmates. His cell, roughly nine square metres in size, includes a private shower, a television, and a landline. In an interview with Le Figaro, he said he had brought three books to begin his confinement, among them The Count of Monte Cristo, the story of a man unjustly imprisoned who later seeks justice.
The decision to imprison a former president has sharply divided France. Outside his residence, supporters waved French flags reading “Courage Nicolas” and “True France with Nicolas.” “Nicolas Sarkozy is not a criminal,” said one supporter, Jacqueline Fraboulet. “It feels like the justice system is taking power away from the people.” Others, however, have hailed the verdict as a landmark in France’s fight against political corruption, long criticized for its leniency toward the powerful.
Judge Nathalie Gavarino, who presided over the case, called Sarkozy’s actions “of exceptional gravity,” saying they undermined public trust in democratic institutions. Her words signal a broader shift in France’s approach to white-collar crime, one that refuses to shield even the most powerful figures from accountability.
Despite his conviction, Sarkozy’s influence endures. His endorsement still carries weight within France’s increasingly right-leaning political landscape. President Emmanuel Macron, who has maintained cordial ties with him, met with Sarkozy ahead of his incarceration- a move that has stirred debate about judicial independence and the blurred lines between politics and personal loyalty.
As he settles into his cell at La Santé, Sarkozy maintains his defiance. “It is an innocent man being imprisoned,” he said. Whether history agrees with him remains to be seen. However, France has made its statement clear. Even at the highest levels, justice must take its course.