Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy leaves his home along with his spouse Carla Bruni-Sarkozy on the day of his incarceration on the Sante jail to start his five-year jail sentence for legal conspiracy over makes an attempt to boost marketing campaign funds from Libya, in Paris, France, on October 21, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters
He is the primary ex-leader of recent France to be imprisoned.
Sarkozy, hand-in-hand along with his spouse Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, left dwelling earlier than getting right into a automobile and travelling to the La Sante jail.
On his solution to jail, Sarkozy stated in an announcement launched on social media that “an harmless man” was being locked up.
He was convicted final month for legal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his 2007 election marketing campaign with funds from Libya.
Sarkozy contests each the conviction and a decide’s uncommon choice to incarcerate him pending enchantment. His journey from the presidential Elysee Palace to the infamous La Sante jail in Paris has captivated France.
Minutes earlier than coming into jail, Sarkozy and his spouse walked slowly to affix his youngsters and grandchildren outdoors his dwelling. He waved at a crowd of supporters gathered within the high-end Paris neighbourhood the place he lives, then obtained into his automobile.
Hundreds of supporters applauded and chanted “Nicolas, Nicolas” and sang the French anthem. Two French flags had been held on a close-by fence, with the inscriptions: “Courage Nicolas, return quickly” and “true France with Nicolas.”
Sarkozy’s sons and daughter — Jean, Pierre, Louis and Giulia — and his grandchildren confirmed up on the gathering.
Parisian resident Michelle Perie, 67, stated she got here in help “as a result of there may be anger, injustice.” “He’s not like every other defendants, he is somebody who holds state secrets and techniques, he is somebody who has at all times carried out his job along with his head held excessive. We do not perceive,” she stated.
Embattled centrist President Emmanuel Macron hosted the conservative Sarkozy on the presidential palace final week. “I’ve at all times been very clear in my public statements in regards to the independence of the judiciary in my position, but it surely was regular on a human stage to obtain one among my predecessors on this context,” Mr. Macron stated Monday.
Solitary confinement
Sarkozy’s attorneys stated the previous President will probably be held in solitary confinement, the place he will probably be refrained from all different prisoners for safety causes.
Sarkozy’s lawyer Christophe Ingrain stated on BFM TV that incarceration “strengthens his willpower, it strengthens his rage to show that he’s harmless.” Ingrain stated Sarkozy is planning to put in writing a e-book about his jail expertise.
Jean-Michel Darrois, one other of Sarkozy’s attorneys, stated on Tuesday that the previous President obtained himself “mentally ready” to be held in solitary confinement, the place he could be refrained from all different prisoners for safety causes.
“First, he packed a bag with a number of sweaters as a result of it is chilly in jail, and earplugs as a result of it’s extremely noisy,” Darrois stated on France Info information broadcaster. “Isolation like what he’ll undergo, is painful, however he obtained himself ready.”
“I’m not afraid of jail. I’ll maintain my head excessive, together with in entrance of the doorways of La Sante,” Sarkozy advised La Tribune Dimanche newspaper. “I’ll battle until the top.”
The paper stated Sarkozy has his jail bag prepared with garments and the ten household pictures he’s allowed to deliver.
Sarkozy additionally advised Le Figaro newspaper that he would deliver three books — the utmost allowed — together with Alexandre Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo,” by which the hero escapes from an island jail earlier than looking for revenge.
The Paris decide dominated that Sarkozy would begin to serve jail time with out ready for his enchantment to be heard, attributable to “the seriousness of the disruption to public order attributable to the offense.” Under the ruling, the 70-year-old Sarkozy will solely be capable of file a request for launch to the appeals court docket as soon as he’s behind bars, and judges will then have as much as two months to course of it.
Sarkozy’s attorneys stated a request for launch will probably be filed in a short time.
Published – October 21, 2025 03:50 pm IST
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