On a crisp Tuesday morning in Paris, history was made as Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s former president, began serving a five-year prison sentence at La Santé prison. The moment marked the first time in modern French history that a former head of state has been incarcerated—a seismic event that has sent ripples through French society and its political class.
Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, was convicted in September of criminal conspiracy related to the alleged illicit financing of his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. As France 24 and The Economist report, this conviction and subsequent imprisonment have thrust Sarkozy into a rarefied and infamous company: not since Marshal Philippe Pétain, the leader of Vichy France after World War II, has a former French head of state been jailed. In fact, the only other precedent stretches back to Louis XVI in 1792, following the abolition of the monarchy.
The Paris court’s ruling was unprecedented not just for its severity, but for its immediacy. Sarkozy was ordered to begin serving his sentence without delay, even as his appeal is underway. Presiding judge Nathalie Gavarino cited the “exceptional gravity” of the offenses, stating that the disruption to public order warranted immediate incarceration. As France 24 notes, this sentence is “provisionally enforceable”—meaning Sarkozy’s legal team can request his release from the very first day of detention, but the court has up to two months to decide.
In the days leading up to his imprisonment, Sarkozy maintained a defiant, almost stoic posture. “If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison – but with my head held high,” he told the press after his verdict, as reported by France 24. Speaking to Le Figaro, he added, “I’m not afraid of prison. I’ll hold my head high, including in front of the doors of La Santé. I’ll fight till the end.”
On Friday before his sentencing, Sarkozy was discreetly received at the Élysée Palace by President Emmanuel Macron. Macron, when questioned, remarked, “It was normal that, on a human level, I should receive one of my predecessors.” The gesture was not without controversy. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, who pledged to personally visit Sarkozy in prison to ensure his security, faced criticism from France’s largest magistrates’ union for “mixing of genres.” Darmanin defended his actions, insisting it was his responsibility “to ensure the proper organisation of this extraordinary detention.”
Support and sympathy for Sarkozy have poured in from across the political spectrum. Former Prime Minister Édouard Balladur and Senate Chairman Gérard Larcher both paid visits or expressed sadness, with Larcher praising Sarkozy’s “courage.” Even former President François Hollande weighed in, lauding the independence of the judiciary while acknowledging the personal toll such a sentence takes on someone who once served the nation.
Outside the political corridors, Sarkozy’s family has rallied in his support. His son Louis called for a demonstration in the upscale Paris neighborhood where Sarkozy resides with his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. The former supermodel and singer has posted family photos and tributes on social media since the conviction, offering a glimpse into the personal side of this public drama.
As for Sarkozy’s first day in prison, it was far from glamorous. La Santé, inaugurated in 1867 and recently renovated, has housed some of France’s most high-profile inmates, from Captain Alfred Dreyfus, wrongly convicted of treason, to the infamous Carlos the Jackal. According to The Associated Press, Sarkozy is expected to be housed either in solitary confinement or in the so-called “VIP” wing for vulnerable inmates—owing to his age (70) and public profile. The cells in this section are modest: 9 square meters (just over 96 square feet), equipped with a small bed, a hot plate, a pay refrigerator, and a pay TV. Inmates have access to fixed landline phones for outgoing calls, all of which are recorded by authorities.
Prison life, even in the VIP section, is a far cry from the privileges of high office. Pierre Botton, a former La Santé inmate and acquaintance of Sarkozy, described the process to AP: “They will open the cell, and (Sarkozy) will discover where he will go.” Botton, who once lived in a 1,200-square-meter mansion, recounted the jarring transition to a cramped cell and the “shock of incarceration.” Patrick Balkany, another former inmate and longtime friend, recalled, “They’re going to take his photo, to make him a card because over there we’re a number, we’re no longer a person with a name.”
Sarkozy himself prepared for the ordeal with a certain literary flair. He packed a small bag with clothes, 10 family photos, and the maximum three books allowed—among them “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas and a biography of Jesus Christ. The choice of Dumas’ classic, whose protagonist escapes wrongful imprisonment, is poignant and perhaps telling of Sarkozy’s own mindset.
As he settles into his cell, Sarkozy has told La Tribune Dimanche that he plans to spend his time writing a book. Inmates in solitary are allowed out for a daily walk in a small yard, always alone. The isolation, intended to protect high-profile detainees from unwanted attention or harassment, can be both a shield and a source of psychological strain.
The court’s decision to jail Sarkozy before his appeal has sparked heated debate in France. While a recent Elabe poll found that 60 percent of French adults consider the sentence “fair,” many on the right see it as a political vendetta. The presiding judge in the case has even received death threats, prompting President Macron to denounce such attacks as “unacceptable.”
Despite the controversy, the court acquitted Sarkozy of several other charges, including passive corruption, embezzlement of Libyan public funds, and illegal campaign financing, citing insufficient evidence that any Libyan money was actually used for his campaign or personal gain. Still, the conviction for criminal conspiracy stands as a stark warning about the consequences of political misconduct at the highest levels.
For now, Sarkozy’s fate rests with the appeals court, which has up to two months to rule on any request for release. If denied, he can appeal again. Until then, the former president—once the most powerful man in France—must adapt to life behind bars, a living symbol of the rule of law’s reach, no matter how high the office once held.