 "From presidential palace to jail: France's ex-president Sarkozy arrives at Paris prison over Libya funding conviction")
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began serving a five-year prison sentence on Tuesday, becoming the first ex-leader in modern France to be jailed.
His journey from the heights of the Elysée Palace to the notorious La Santé prison in Paris follows his conviction for criminal conspiracy related to the alleged illegal financing of his victorious 2007 presidential campaign with funds from late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
Sarkozy, 70, was sentenced last month but was ordered by a Paris judge to begin serving his time immediately, an unusual ruling citing the “seriousness of the disruption to public order caused by the offence.” He maintains his innocence and contests both the conviction and the decision to jail him pending appeal.
The former president, who led France from 2007 to 2012, entered La Santé, a historic Paris prison that has undergone recent renovations. He is expected to be held in an isolation unit—likely a 9-square-metre cell—for security reasons, to prevent contact with other inmates.
Before his arrest, Sarkozy expressed defiance, telling a newspaper, “I’ll hold my head high, including in front of the doors of La Santé. I’ll fight till the end.” His preparation for prison included packing clothes, ten family photos, and three books, notably two volumes of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, whose protagonist famously escapes from an island prison.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed the former president’s entry and is set to visit the facility personally to ensure security conditions are met.
Under the court’s ruling, Sarkozy’s legal team can request his release only after he’s behind bars, but judges have up to two months to process the request, leaving the duration of his stay uncertain.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn response to the imprisonment, one of Nicolas Sarkozy’s sons, Louis, organised a public rally on Tuesday morning near the family’s home in an upscale Paris neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (a supermodel-turned-singer), has been using her social media platforms to show support, sharing pictures of Sarkozy’s children and posting songs dedicated to him since his conviction.
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