Fall of a President
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy Commences His 5 Year Jail Term Today
In a stunning turn of history, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy begins a five-year prison sentence for alleged Libyan campaign funding, becoming the first modern French leader jailed, defiant, unbowed, and vowing to turn his downfall into a new chapter of his “life’s novel.”
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, convicted of criminal conspiracy in a high-profile case involving illegal campaign financing from Libya's late dictator Muammar Gaddafi, began serving a five-year prison sentence today (Tuesday) at Paris's La Santé prison.
This marks a historic moment, as he becomes the first ex-French leader in modern times to be incarcerated.
The sentence stems from a September 25, 2025, court ruling that found Sarkozy guilty of conspiring to secure millions in illicit funds from Gaddafi's regime to fuel his successful 2007 presidential bid.
Sarkozy has consistently denied the charges, maintaining his innocence throughout the trial and appealing the verdict, though the court's decision requires him to begin serving time immediately while the appeal proceeds, expected in about six months.
Sarkozy arrived at the renovated La Santé prison, a facility with a storied history that has housed figures like Carlos the Jackal and Manuel Noriega, where he is likely to be placed in solitary confinement or the "vulnerable" (VIP) section for security reasons.
His cell, measuring 9-12 square meters, includes a private shower, landline phone, and access to a TV for a monthly fee of €14. He can leave for one hour daily to walk in a courtyard, accompanied by guards, and may prepare meals in his cell or have them delivered.
Defiant in the face of imprisonment, Sarkozy told media he isn't afraid and plans to use the time to write a book, describing his life as a "novel" with this ordeal as part of it.
This isn't Sarkozy's first brush with the law; he has prior convictions, including one for corruption where he served via electronic monitoring at home. His wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, faces related charges for hiding evidence, which she denies.
The case has sparked outrage among his right-wing allies and far-right supporters, with some calling for a pardon from President Emmanuel Macron, while others view it as a sign that no one is above the law in France.
This morning, supporters rallied outside his Paris home, organized by his son Louis, waving flags with messages like "Courage Nicolas, come back soon."
Sarkozy's lawyers aim to minimize his time behind bars through the appeal process.