In a dramatic fall from power, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy entered La Santé prison in Paris today to begin serving a five-year sentence after being convicted of criminal conspiracy related to illicit campaign financing.
Sarkozy, flanked by his wife Carla Bruni, departed his residence hand in hand and was greeted by a crowd of supporters chanting his name. Some waved posters declaring his innocence. As he boarded the prison transport, Sarkozy told waiting reporters: “I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high.”
His conviction stems from allegations that he accepted funds from Libya’s late leader Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 presidential campaign. The court found that Sarkozy and his collaborators conspired to hide the illicit financing scheme.
Legal observers note this moment is unprecedented in modern French history: Sarkozy is the first former president to be imprisoned. Despite being eligible to appeal, the court ordered immediate imprisonment, citing the gravity of the offense.
Inside La Santé, Sarkozy is expected to be held in solitary confinement or a segregated section for high-profile prisoners, with access to limited amenities under strict security protocols.
His supporters and political allies have condemned the sentence, framing it as politically motivated vengeance. Yet others argue it signals a stronger commitment to accountability—even for the powerful. The appeal battle is poised to dominate French political discourse in the weeks ahead.
