Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has begun serving his five-year prison sentence at Paris’ La Santé prison, becoming the first French leader in modern history to be incarcerated. The conviction stems from charges of criminal conspiracy related to allegations that his 2007 presidential campaign was financed with money from former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Sarkozy, who governed France from 2007 to 2012, was ordered to begin his sentence immediately following an unprecedented ruling last month. The Paris court deemed the offence a “serious disruption to public order,” justifying his detention even while his appeal remains pending.
Historic Incarceration at La Santé Prison
The La Santé prison, one of France’s oldest correctional facilities, has held some of the most infamous inmates in the country’s history — from Captain Alfred Dreyfus, wrongfully convicted of treason in the 19th century, to Carlos the Jackal, the Venezuelan terrorist responsible for multiple deadly attacks.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed Sarkozy’s transfer to La Santé, assuring that security measures would be “personally reviewed” due to the former president’s unique status. Sarkozy is expected to be held in solitary confinement or within the prison’s “vulnerable inmates” section, often referred to as the VIP wing, consisting of 18 private 9-square-metre cells.
Sarkozy’s Response: “I’ll Hold My Head High”
Ahead of his imprisonment, Sarkozy told Le Figaro he would maintain his dignity and fight to clear his name. “I’m not afraid of prison. I’ll hold my head high, including in front of the doors of La Santé,” he said.
The former president reportedly entered prison carrying a few personal items — clothes, ten family photos, and three books, including Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo and a biography of Jesus Christ. The symbolic choice of Dumas’ novel, which tells the story of a man unjustly imprisoned, has not gone unnoticed among French commentators.
Sarkozy’s wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, has shared messages of support on social media, posting family photos and music tributes as their son Louis Sarkozy called for a peaceful rally in support of his father.
A Defiant Legacy
Despite his conviction, Sarkozy maintains his innocence and insists the case is politically motivated. The former president continues to wield significant influence in French conservative politics, and his imprisonment marks a defining moment in the country’s ongoing reckoning with political corruption and accountability.
