Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has begun serving a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of criminal conspiracy and illegal campaign financing tied to his 2007 presidential bid.
Sarkozy, who served as France’s leader from 2007 to 2012, left his home in Paris on Monday under police escort and was taken to La Santé Prison, where he is expected to serve part of his sentence in isolation. It marks the first time in modern French history that a former president has been sent to prison.
Before his departure, Sarkozy posted a short message on social media, saying, “It is not a former President of the Republic being jailed this morning, but an innocent man.”
The 70-year-old former president was found guilty by a Paris court for engaging in a criminal conspiracy to secure illegal funding for his 2007 campaign, allegedly involving money from the regime of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Although the court found no direct proof that Libyan funds were used in his campaign, it concluded that Sarkozy and his associates participated in an organized network to obtain foreign money illegally.
He was sentenced to five years in prison, with two years suspended, and fined €100,000. The court ordered him to begin serving immediately despite his pending appeal.
Sarkozy’s lawyers described the ruling as “a politically motivated injustice” and confirmed that an appeal has already been filed.
French media reports indicate that Sarkozy is being held in a secure wing of La Santé Prison, separate from other inmates for security reasons. Given his age and status, he may later apply for home confinement under electronic surveillance if prison authorities deem it appropriate.
The decision has stirred mixed reactions across France. Members of his conservative party, Les Républicains, called the sentence harsh and damaging to the nation’s image. One of his longtime allies, Brice Hortefeux, said the decision “damages France’s image and undermines trust in the judiciary.”
However, anti-corruption advocates and opposition figures praised the court’s firmness. Green Party leader Marine Tondelier said, “This proves that in France, no one not even a president is above the law.”
Sarkozy’s imprisonment is being viewed as a turning point in France’s democratic history. While previous presidents like Jacques Chirac and François Hollande faced legal scrutiny, none ever served a custodial sentence.
Observers say the move reflects the independence of the French judiciary and underscores that political power offers no immunity from accountability.
A law professor at the University of Paris told local media, “The imprisonment of Nicolas Sarkozy is not the fall of France, but the rise of the rule of law.”
Sarkozy remains defiant as his legal team prepares for appeal. But for now, the once-powerful French leader begins life behind bars a stark reminder that in democracy, justice can reach even the highest office.
