On TMC's 'Quotidien' show this Thursday, October 23, Franz-Olivier Giesbert sharply criticized Nicolas Sarkozy's incarceration, leading to a heated exchange with host Yann Barthès. The editorialist compared the situation to the Dreyfus affair to defend critical thinking. Barthès rejected the analogy, highlighting the risks of challenging judicial decisions.
The atmosphere was electric on the set of 'Quotidien' this Thursday, October 23, 2025, where Franz-Olivier Giesbert, former director of Le Figaro and Le Point, was promoting the fourth volume of his Histoire intime de la Ve République. Questioned by Yann Barthès on what he would tell today's youth, the editorialist quickly turned to Nicolas Sarkozy's incarceration at La Santé prison, which began Tuesday morning, nearly a month after his conviction in the Libyan trial.
Giesbert called the matter 'honteux, c’est un scandale,' stating that 'les juges ont voulu se le payer.' He criticized the judgment as 'incroyable,' stemming from a 'faux de Mediapart' and based on 'présomptions et des impressions' for a corruption pact, lacking legal foundation. Facing skeptical panelists, he remarked: 'Vous avez l’air de trouver normale cette affaire,' while clarifying he is 'not réputé pour être sarkozyste.'
When Barthès asked if challenging a judicial decision was not risky, Giesbert shot back: 'Je ne vais pas me gêner ! On est en France,' invoking 'l’esprit critique.' Tensions peaked with his provocation: 'Pour Dreyfus, on sait dans quel camp vous auriez été. Surtout il ne faut pas contester les décisions de justice.' Barthès replied: 'Sarkozy et Dreyfus ?,' rejecting the comparison and later noting: 'Vous avez quand même dit tout à l’heure que j’aurai été du mauvais côté.'
Giesbert concluded: 'Je suis révolté et je vais mourir révolté, c’est français aussi.' Meanwhile, Sarkozy's incarceration is stirring controversies within the penitentiary system. Held in isolation, he receives an unprecedented security setup: two armed officers at all times, justified by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez on October 22 on CNews-Europe 1, due to his 'statut' and 'menaces qui pèsent sur lui.' The UFAP-UNSA-Justice union condemns it as 'un dispositif insensé, une folie sécuritaire, et surtout une humiliation sans précédent pour tout le corps pénitentiaire,' with additional escorts during rare cell exits.