Experts analyze Nicolas Sarkozy's judicial tribulations
Two articles published in Le Monde on September 30, 2025, delve into former President Nicolas Sarkozy's ongoing legal troubles. Anthropologist Emmanuel Desveaux examines the symbolic 'monarchic body' of Sarkozy, while another piece warns of a 'Trump-ization' of the public debate on justice. These analyses highlight broader implications for French politics.
Nicolas Sarkozy, former President of France from 2007 to 2012, has faced multiple legal proceedings for years, including corruption and illegal campaign financing. Articles published on September 30, 2025, in Le Monde's Ideas section provide distinct perspectives on these cases.
Anthropologist Emmanuel Desveaux writes 'The Afflictions of the Monarchic Body or the Misfortunes of Nicolas Sarkozy'. He analyzes how Sarkozy's physical and symbolic body embodies the French presidency, often likened to a republican monarchy. Desveaux notes that Sarkozy's public appearances, marked by health issues and court hearings, reveal vulnerabilities in this figure. 'Sarkozy's monarchic body is tormented by the assaults of justice, turning his misfortunes into a symbolic tragedy', he writes, referencing prior convictions like the 2021 one for corruption in the wiretapping case.
In a second piece, 'Sarkozy and Justice: The Risk of Trump-ization of the Public Debate', the author warns that Sarkozy's statements on his trials risk polarizing discourse, similar to controversies surrounding Donald Trump in the United States. It quotes Sarkozy recently stating that 'justice is being weaponized against me', fueling a victim narrative. The article highlights how this dynamic could erode trust in French judicial institutions, with no notable contradictions between sources that converge on the context of ongoing cases, such as the 2025 appeal in the Bygmalion affair.
These opinions, released on the same day, reflect a moment of introspection on Sarkozy's legacy amid his persistent legal battles. They add no new judicial facts but contextualize cultural and political implications, drawing on verified events from 2014 to 2023.