Sarkozy, once a leading figure in French conservatism, was accused of allowing his associates and intermediaries to try to obtain financial support from Muammar Gaddafi's regime in Libya. In return, they were to offer economic and diplomatic benefits. The former president will serve his sentence in the Prison de la Santé, the only prison located within the borders of Paris. In an interview with the newspaper “La Tribune Dimanche”, Sarkozy announced that he intended to take with him books, including “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas and a biography of Jesus Christ.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, who served as Sarkozy's spokesman in the past, said he met with the former president after the verdict was announced. He also announced a visit to the prison, expressing concern for his safety.
The first such case since Pétain
Sarkozy became the first French president to be put behind bars since Philippe Pétain, a Nazi collaborator who signed an armistice with Germany in 1940. Pétain's legacy now symbolizes one of the darkest chapters in French history.
Although Sarkozy appealed against the verdict and repeatedly emphasized his innocence, the court found that the gravity of the charges required immediate execution. French law usually allows convicts to defer their sentences until their appeals are heard, but in Sarkozy's case, judges found that the accusations are so serious that this procedure cannot be used.
Controversy surrounding the verdicts and Sarkozy's future
The former president, despite numerous legal problems, remains an influential figure on the French political scene. In an interview with Le Figaro, Sarkozy revealed that he had spoken by phone to Marine Le Pen, who was also convicted this year of allegedly embezzling funds from the European Parliament. He also had contact with former Prime Minister François Fillon, who was found guilty of similar charges.
Sarkozy was previously convicted in another corruption case, which resulted in a short period of house arrest. He is currently waiting for the decision of the French Supreme Court regarding financial law violations during his second presidential campaign in 2012. The verdict in this case is scheduled for November 26, and Sarkozy maintains his innocence.
In a trial over alleged links with the Gaddafi regime, Sarkozy was cleared of corruption charges. When announcing the verdict, Judge Nathalie Gavarino noted that the court was unable to determine whether Libyan funds actually went to Sarkozy's 2007 campaign.
