Sarkozy's First Day Behind Bars: No Citizen Is Above the Law

While he was transported at La Santé prison this week, the former French leader published a statement overflowing with opposition via social media, asserting, "This isn't a former president of the nation who is being jailed today, but rather an wrongfully accused individual." An appellate court will in time give its view the veracity of this assertion. But unfortunately for the ex-president, the turmoil and impact of his decline cannot be ignored.

The Guilty Verdict

The French head of state from 2007 to 2012, Mr Sarkozy was judged culpable of criminal conspiracy to obtain prohibited donations from the regime of the former Libyan ruler, the Libyan strongman. Given a half-decade incarceration, he has become the pioneering past president of an EU country to be imprisoned, and the initial French president since the disgraced head of Vichy France, the Vichy leader. In a country where the democratically selected head of state holds a near-royal standing, the recent extraordinary spectacle was a historic occasion.

National Faith and Legal Accountability

At a time when trust in government bodies in France has plummeted to the degree where warning signs are evident, it was also a sobering reminder that no one is above the law. In a poll issued recently, over 65% of those surveyed indicated that they thought a most of politicians were unethical, and almost 90% reported that the majority acted mainly out of individual benefit. In sentencing Mr Sarkozy and ordering that his incarceration should begin without delay, the presiding magistrate, the judge, declared that she took into account both the exceptionally grave nature of the crimes and the fact that they were "could damage public confidence."

Courtroom Struggles

These considerations might be deemed typical, particularly since that Mr Sarkozy has previously been convicted in other graft trials. Yet the legal proceedings and its consequences have troublingly exposed the degree to which within the nation, as in various states, the judicial framework is threatened by a recently popular disrespect toward legal institutions and the try to influence of the popular view.

Following a populist playbook, an thorough and detailed legal process has been falsely depicted by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a legal conspiracy and ideological revenge. Subsequent to the decision recently, the ex-leader openly condemned his sentence as invalid and condemned the "hatred" with "no boundaries" that supposedly drove it. While prominent officials and supporters from the right and far right have dominated media discussions and conservative press with the identical arguments, Ms Gavarino has obtained various menaces.

Citizen Reaction

Encouragingly, the public seems unconvinced. A post-verdict poll found clear majorities endorsing both the conduct of the courtroom process and his sentencing. However the turmoil, and the blatant effort to damage the credibility of the court system, was most probably just a trial run. Next year, the far-right leader's appeal against a guilty verdict for misuse of campaign money will occur. If the appeal fails, the far-right National Rally leader will be ruled out from participating in the future campaign.

Long-term Effects

Within a divided and skeptical country, that will be a risky period for the national legal system to navigate. Mr Sarkozy could still be freed ahead of his next legal challenge, subsequent to a petition by his attorneys. But the unfounded and damaging assaults on the judicial framework before, during and after his trial have set a damaging precedent.