Former President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to be jailed this Tuesday morning at La Santé prison in Paris, following his conviction to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy in the Libyan financing of his 2007 campaign. Placed in isolation for security reasons, he plans to file an immediate release request due to his appeal. Political figures like Emmanuel Macron and Gérald Darmanin have voiced human support, while criticisms target the provisional execution of the sentence.
Nicolas Sarkozy, convicted on September 25, 2025, to five years in prison for criminal conspiracy, will enter La Santé prison in Paris's 14th arrondissement around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 21. The court found him guilty of allowing close collaborators to strike a deal with Muammar Gaddafi's Libya for the covert financing of his 2007 presidential campaign, though the investigation did not prove the Libyan funds reached his campaign coffers. Acquitted on other charges, he has appealed and is presumed innocent again, potentially allowing release under judicial supervision if detention is not justified by specific risks like witness tampering or flight.
Upon arrival, Sarkozy will be housed alone in one of the 15 nine-square-meter cells in the isolation wing, a measure required for his safety and that of his relatives, in a facility holding 754 inmates. Entry will likely be through a discreet door, such as the delivery entrance, to evade media, though the arrival will be broadcast live, risking a noisy welcome from other prisoners. He demands ordinary treatment without privileges, but adaptations are needed due to constant noise, smells of food and cleaning products, and potential sleep difficulties on the first night.
Emmanuel Macron, who met him at the Élysée on Friday, October 17, deemed the encounter 'normal, on a human level,' while reaffirming judicial independence. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, a former collaborator, plans to visit to check security conditions, expressing 'a lot of sadness' and stressing the minister's right to inspect any prison. This move irks the Union of Magistrates, seeing it as a 'mixing of roles' and 'media stunt.' Right-wing supporters, shocked by the provisional execution despite the appeal, liken it to a judicial scandal, while detractors highlight a breach of presumption of innocence. Sarkozy's sons call for a support rally Tuesday morning.
