BREAKING NEWS: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to report to La Santé prison in Paris today to begin a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy linked to his 2007 election campaign. This historic moment marks Sarkozy as the first living ex-president of France to be imprisoned.
Sarkozy, who maintains his innocence, faces confinement in a facility renowned for housing notorious inmates, including the infamous Alfred Dreyfus and Venezuelan militant Carlos the Jackal. As he prepares to enter the prison, Sarkozy has stated he expects to be placed in solitary confinement for security reasons or potentially in the prison’s “vulnerable” inmate section, often referred to as the VIP area.
In a striking ruling by a Paris judge, Sarkozy will start his sentence immediately, bypassing the usual wait for an appeal decision due to the serious public order disruption caused by his crimes. “It’s not Nicolas Sarkozy, president of the Republic, that’s coming… It’s a man, and he will live exactly the same thing that everyone does,” remarked Pierre Botton, a former inmate of La Santé.
Sarkozy has publicly expressed his resolve, telling La Tribune Dimanche, “I’m not afraid of prison. I’ll hold my head high.” He also shared that he has packed a prison bag with 10 family photos and three books, including The Count of Monte Cristo, a tale of revenge and redemption that resonates with his current predicament.
Support is rallying around the former president, with his son Louis Sarkozy calling for a demonstration in support of his father today in the affluent Paris neighborhood where they reside with Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
This unprecedented event highlights a significant shift in French political history, as Sarkozy’s conviction underscores the legal accountability of high-ranking officials. As the world watches this developing story, the implications of Sarkozy’s imprisonment will likely reverberate throughout France and beyond.
Stay tuned for updates as Sarkozy enters La Santé prison and the reactions unfold from both supporters and critics alike.
