Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is spending his first hours at La Santé prison in Paris, where he began serving a five-year prison sentence imposed for conspiracy related to funding his presidential campaign with money from Muammar Gaddafi. Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, has filed an appeal against the court ruling. Upon his arrival at the prison on Tuesday morning, inmates shouted greetings to Nicolas Sarkozy from their cells, according to reports from Agence France-Presse (AFP). His entry into the correctional facility marks the beginning of a completely different reality for the former country leader.
Nicolas Sarkozy’s daily routine and living conditions in prison
According to Le Figaro, Sarkozy’s daily routine in prison begins with a simple breakfast consisting of bread and jam, delivered the previous evening. His activities are significantly restricted due to strict security rules in effect.
The former French president has limited access to:
- Gymnasium and library
- Courtyard for walks
- Phone calls costing up to 110 euros for 20 minutes
- Three weekly visits lasting one hour each
The court case and conviction
It should be noted that Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty on September 25 for allowing close associates from the Interior Ministry to initiate negotiations in Tripoli for secret funding of his 2007 campaign by Gaddafi’s Libya. Although the funding ultimately did not materialize, the justice system ruled that there was a conspiracy. He categorically denies the charges and characterizes the case as politically motivated.
Release request and prospects
Sarkozy immediately filed a release request through his lawyer Christophe Ingrain, who characterized the imprisonment as “shameful.” The justice system has a two-month window to rule on the request. In case of a positive decision, the former president could be released before Christmas. According to BFMTV, the release request will be examined with different criteria, focusing on whether remaining in prison is the only way to avoid pressure, flight, or repeat offenses. If such risks do not arise, Nicolas Sarkozy might be released under restrictive conditions, such as house arrest with an electronic ankle bracelet.
