🔗 Share this article

Nicolas Sarkozy plans a memoir in the coming weeks called A Prisoner’s Diary, detailing his experience spent in custody.

The revelation came shortly after the former president left prison while his appeal proceeds the court ruling for illegal collaboration connected to efforts to acquire presidential race money provided by the government of the late Libyan dictator.

Time in Custody: Personal Reflections

“In prison one sees little, and nothing to do,” he writes in an extract, indicating the memoir centers around his musings from seclusion instead of wider commentary regarding the overcrowded and struggling jail system in France.

“Quiet is absent, which is missing in that facility, where one hears constant sound,” he adds. “The racket unfortunately never stops. However, akin to empty spaces, personal reflection is fortified behind bars.”

Freedom Plea: Sharing the Struggle

While appealing for release, he was present by video link from a room in prison, characterizing his incarceration as draining. He expressed in court: “I want to pay tribute to all the prison staff, displaying remarkable compassion, and who helped make this nightmare manageable – because it is a nightmare.”

“I never imagined that at 70 years of age, I’d find myself behind bars. It’s a hardship I must endure. I admit it’s difficult, deeply straining. It affects one on any prisoner due to its intensity.”

First of Its Kind

The former president, the ex-head of state from 2007 to 2012, was the first former head from the EU and the initial post-WWII figure from France to experience jail.

Ahead of his incarceration he declared he intended to spend the period to compose an account.

Reading Material

It is not certain whether he had time to read and critique the volumes he had in his cell: a life story of Jesus spanning two books together with Dumas’s work the famous story, in which a blameless person is imprisoned but escapes to exact retribution.

Prison Conditions

Sarkozy was placed in isolation for his own security in a room of about nine sq metres with his own shower and toilet at La Santé prison located in the capital. Guards were stationed in a neighbouring cell.

Reports indicated his diet consisted only yoghurts while inside due to concerns meals provided could have been tampered with. Although he had access for self-catering but he turned this down, as per accounts. Unclear remains if he will detail meals during incarceration.

Defense Viewpoint

His attorney, Christophe Ingrain daily while he was in prison, stated during proceedings his safety would improve outside jail rather than in custody. “He received death threats, heard shouts during nighttime plus rapid actions in an adjacent room during an inmate’s self-injury.”

Case Background

Sarkozy went to prison on 21 October following the judiciary sentenced him to a five-year sentence for illegal collaboration over a scheme to acquire election financing for his 2007 presidential race.

He maintains his innocence and is contesting the ruling, and a fresh trial set for next spring.