PARIS (FN) — Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has begun serving a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of criminal conspiracy related to illegal campaign financing. The 70-year-old left his Paris residence Tuesday morning, accompanied by his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and entered La Santé prison, marking a historic moment in modern French politics.
Sarkozy was found guilty of accepting illicit funds from Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 presidential campaign. The Paris court ordered immediate incarceration, citing the gravity of the offense and its impact on public trust. Sarkozy maintains his innocence and has vowed to appeal the ruling.
The former president’s departure from his upscale neighborhood drew a crowd of supporters, many chanting his name and singing the French national anthem. Family members, including his children and grandchildren, gathered to bid him farewell. French flags bearing messages of encouragement were waved as he entered the prison.
This marks the first time a former head of state in the European Union has been jailed for crimes committed while in office. Sarkozy’s fall from power has reignited debates over political accountability and the influence of foreign money in democratic elections.
Authorities indicated that Sarkozy may be held in solitary confinement or in a secure wing designated for high-profile inmates. His legal team has criticized the court’s decision to enforce the sentence before the appeal process concludes, calling it unprecedented and politically motivated.
Sarkozy served as president from 2007 to 2012 and remains a polarizing figure in French politics. His imprisonment has sent shockwaves through the country, raising questions about the legacy of leadership and the future of political ethics in France.
