Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was jailed and began his five-year prison sentence for his role in the Libyan election funding scandal. The 70-year-old was convicted for his role in a conspiracy to illegally finance his 2007 presidential campaign with millions provided by the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. The historic event has sent shockwaves through the political establishment and divided public opinion across the nation.
The gravity of the situation was underscored by his arrival at the notoriously overcrowded La Santé prison in Paris. Dozens of police officers sealed off streets in the Montparnasse district as the former leader’s vehicle passed through the prison gates at 09:40 local time.
This scene stood in stark contrast to the send-off he received from his home, where more than one hundred supporters gathered, applauding and chanting his name as he departed, hand-in-hand with his wife, the former singer and model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
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A Defiant Message and A Family’s Plea
In a dramatic gesture, Sarkozy took to the social media platform X during his journey to the penitentiary, posting a lengthy and defiant statement proclaiming his innocence. He framed his imprisonment not as a personal tragedy, but as a national humiliation driven by vendetta.
He wrote: “I have no doubt. Truth will prevail. But how crushing the price will have been.” Addressing the French public directly, he declared,
“With unwavering strength I tell you it is not a former president they are locking up this morning – it is an innocent man.” He concluded his emotional post by stating, “Do not feel sorry for me because my wife and my children are by my side… but this morning I feel deep sorrow for a France humiliated by a will for revenge.”
The public display of support was orchestrated by his family. His 28-year-old son, Louis, had publicly appealed for a strong show of solidarity, while another son, Pierre, asked only for a message of “love – ‘rien d’autre, s’il vous plaît’ (nothing else, please).”
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy Jailed
Sarkozy has been placed in a small cell within the prison’s isolation wing, a measure taken for his own safety, given that he is sharing the facility with convicted drug lords and terrorists. A source close to the former president confirmed that he has requested no special privileges despite his former status.
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However, his time behind bars may be brief. Moments after Sarkozy entered the prison, his lawyer, Christophe Ingrain, announced that a formal request for his client’s release had already been filed with the courts. Mr Ingrain argued vehemently against the imprisonment, stating,
“Nothing justified his incarceration.” He added, “He’ll be inside for at least three weeks or a month,” indicating the minimum period they anticipate before a potential appeal hearing.
As the legal battle continues, the image of a former president confined to a prison cell marks a profound and turbulent chapter in French political history.
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The post Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy Jailed For Gaddafi Election Funding Scandal appeared first on iHarare News.
