Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy left his Paris home on Tuesday to begin serving a prison sentence after being convicted of seeking Libyan funds for his 2007 presidential campaign — a moment that marks a historic first in European politics.
Hand-in-hand with his wife, Carla Bruni, Sarkozy walked past a crowd of supporters chanting “Free Nicolas!” before entering a police-escorted car bound for La Santé Prison in Paris.
The 70-year-old ex-leader, who governed France from 2007 to 2012, was sentenced in September to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy over an alleged deal with late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to finance his election bid.
“If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison — but with my head held high,” Sarkozy defiantly told reporters after the verdict, which he has appealed, denouncing it as a “deep injustice.”
Supporters, some holding framed portraits and singing the French national anthem, gathered outside his residence as neighbours looked on. “This is a sad day for France and democracy,” said Flora Amanou, 41, one of the loyal backers who had followed his political career closely.
Sarkozy now becomes the first former head of an EU nation to serve jail time — and the first French leader behind bars since Philippe Pétain, the World War II collaborationist.
He will be held in solitary confinement, in a nine-square-metre cell to ensure privacy and security. Prison staff said he will be allowed short daily walks and family visits three times a week.
In preparation for his time behind bars, Sarkozy told Le Figaro he would bring two books: The Count of Monte Cristo — the story of an innocent man imprisoned who seeks revenge — and a biography of Jesus.
Despite his conviction, Sarkozy remains an influential figure in French conservative politics. A poll by Elabe shows that six in ten French citizens view his sentence as fair, while President Emmanuel Macron, who met with him last week, defended the gesture as “normal, on a human level.”
Sarkozy’s legal troubles have trailed him since leaving office, including a previous corruption conviction served under house arrest with an electronic ankle tag.
Although he was acquitted of direct corruption charges in the Libyan case, the court found his actions carried “exceptional gravity.” His legal team has already filed for release pending appeal — a process that could take up to two months.
La Santé Prison, which has housed notorious figures including “Carlos the Jackal,” now adds a former president to its long and controversial list of inmates.
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