Nicolas Sarkozy, revelations about the time spent in prison: “I would have given anything to be able to look out the window”

Former French President (2007-2012) Nicolas Sarkozy, convicted in the case of financing his presidential campaign with Libyan money, revealed on Saturday, December 6, just a few days before the release of his book, “Le journal d'un prisoner” (Journal of a prisoner), details about the three weeks spent in prison, reports AFP.

Nicolas Sarkozy will be tried again. AFP PHOTO

“I was struck by the absence of any color. Gray dominated everything, devoured everything, covered every surface”writes the former head of state, whose book, published by Fayard, controlled by conservative billionaire Vincent Bollore, will see the light of day on December 10, according to Agerpres, citing the foreign press agency.

On Saturday, the private radio station Europe 1, also controlled by Bollore, as well as the daily Le Figaro published excerpts.

On the first day of detention, according to Europe 1, the former president knelt to pray. “It came as a matter of course”, told Sarkozy in his book.

“I stayed like that for a few minutes. I prayed that I would have the strength to bear the cross of this injustice”added the former president, also describing his discussions on Sunday with the prison chaplain.

Nicolas Sarkozy, aged 70, was sentenced on September 25, in the first instance, to five years in prison, with an arrest warrant issued for immediate execution for conspiracy and a fine of 100,000 euros, AFP recalls.

The former president appealed immediately and will be tried again between March 16 and June 3 by the Paris Court of Appeal.

In the article in the newspaper Le Figaro, Sarkozy confesses that “he wrote daily with a pen on a plywood table”.

“I gave the pages to my lawyers, who then gave them to my secretary to revise and proofread. I wrote in one go, and after my release on a Monday, I finished the book in the next few dayse”, explained Sarkozy.

“But how did we get here?”

The former head of state added:

“I had to answer this simple question: 'But how did I get here?' I had to reflect on this life so strange to mine, which made me go through such extreme situations.” he explained.

Sarkozy – convicted in two other cases, in the so-called wiretapping scandal and in the Bygmalion affair – keeps a few arrows in this book for politicians, including for President Emmanuel Macron who, according to Le Figaro newspaper, would “closed eyes” at the conviction and imprisonment of his predecessor.

Nicolas Sarkozy, inmate number 320535, according to Le Figaro newspaper, also describes his detention and diet at La Sante prison in Paris, which consisted of “dairy products, cereal bars, mineral water, apple juice and some sweets.”

Protected in prison by two security officers, the former president remained locked in his cell 23 hours a day, except for visiting hours.

“I would have given anything to be able to look out the window, to enjoy the passing of cars”, the former president stated.