Nicolas Sarkozy entered La Santé prison in Paris on Tuesday morning at 9:45am to begin serving a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy. The 70-year-old former French president was accompanied by his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy as he prepared to become the first former French leader jailed since Nazi collaborator Marshal Philippe Pétain after World War Two.
More than 100 supporters gathered outside his residence, chanting "Nicolas, Nicolas" and singing the French national anthem as he departed for prison. His sons Jean, Pierre and Louis, along with daughter Giulia and grandchildren, attended the emotional farewell gathering before he stepped into the car that would take him to jail.
Historic downfall
Sarkozy was convicted last month of criminal conspiracy over the alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential election campaign with money from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The case caps a stunning downfall for the man who led France between 2007 and 2012.
"I want to tell them with my unwavering strength that it is not a former President of the Republic who is being locked up this morning, it is an innocent person," Sarkozy said in a social media statement before entering prison. He declared his innocence and expressed "deep sorrow for France, which finds itself humiliated by the expression of a vengeance that has taken hatred to an unprecedented level."
Prison conditions and reactions
Sarkozy will be held in a 95 square foot cell in the isolation wing for security reasons, with one hour of daily exercise alone. According to the Daily Star, inmates at La Santé shouted "Oh bienvenue Sarkozy!" and "Y a Sarkozy!" from their cells upon his arrival.
The BBC reports that Sarkozy chose "The Count of Monte Cristo" as his reading material - the story of a wrongly imprisoned man seeking revenge. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin plans to visit Sarkozy in prison, stating "I cannot be insensitive to a man's distress."
Political support amid controversy
President Emmanuel Macron received Sarkozy at the Élysée Palace before his incarceration, calling the meeting "normal on a human level". The gesture demonstrates continued political solidarity despite the criminal conviction.
Public opinion polling suggests 58% of French respondents believe the verdict was impartial, with 61% supporting sending Sarkozy to jail without waiting for his appeal. The data indicates broad public support for the court's decision despite his continued protests of innocence.
Sources used: "Sky News", "Daily Mail", "Daily Star", "BBC", "Guardian" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
