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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday began serving a five-year prison sentence for conspiring to raise campaign funds from Libya.
The 70-year-old former conservative leader arrived at La Santé prison in Paris, walking hand in hand with his wife, Carla Bruni, as a crowd of supporters chanted “Nicolas, Nicolas” and sang the French national anthem, La Marseillaise. Sarkozy, who was convicted and sentenced last month, has become the first former French head of state to be jailed since Marshal Philippe Pétain, the World War II collaborator.
Shortly before his incarceration, Sarkozy posted a lengthy message on X (formerly Twitter), declaring his innocence and describing himself as a victim of “revenge and hatred.” “It is not a former president of the Republic who is being imprisoned this morning; it is an innocent man,” he wrote.
The conviction follows years of investigations into allegations that Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign received millions of euros from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was later overthrown and killed during the Arab Spring uprisings. The court found Sarkozy guilty of conspiring with close aides to organise the illegal funding but cleared him of personally receiving or using the money.
Sarkozy has consistently denied any wrongdoing, calling the charges politically motivated. His lawyers said they had filed an appeal and requested early release pending the review of the case, which they expect to be heard within a month. They expressed hope that he could be freed before Christmas.
The former president is expected to be kept in La Santé’s isolation unit, where inmates are housed in single cells and separated during outdoor activities for security reasons. The refurbished facility provides 9–12 square metre cells with private showers. Sarkozy will also have access to a landline telephone and a television for a monthly fee of €14.
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In an interview with Le Figaro, Sarkozy said he planned to take three books to prison, including Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo — a tale of a man unjustly imprisoned who seeks revenge against those who betrayed him.
The decision to imprison a former head of state has sparked outrage among Sarkozy’s political allies and far-right supporters. “Nicolas Sarkozy is not a criminal,” said Jacqueline Fraboulet, one of his supporters who gathered outside his home. “It feels like the justice system is taking power, and that’s not good for France.” Sarkozy’s children and brothers were also present to show their support as he departed for prison, waving solemnly to the cheering crowd.
The sentencing marks a turning point in France’s approach to white-collar crime. In past decades, many convicted politicians avoided jail, but Sarkozy’s imprisonment signals a new determination to hold senior officials accountable.
Despite his legal troubles, Sarkozy remains a powerful figure within France’s conservative movement. President Emmanuel Macron, who enjoys cordial relations with Sarkozy and his wife, said he met with the former leader ahead of his incarceration. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin also announced plans to visit him in prison a move that drew criticism from left-wing politicians, who accused the government of undermining judicial independence.
The son of a Hungarian immigrant, Sarkozy rose to power in 2007 on promises of reform and economic revitalisation. However, his presidency was overshadowed by the 2008 global financial crisis, and his pro-business policies, such as raising the retirement age and loosening France’s 35-hour work week, brought him limited political reward.
