Nicolas Sarkozy to Pen Jail Diary Detailing Three Weeks Incarcerated
Nicolas Sarkozy plans a personal account next month titled Diary of a Prisoner, detailing his time served in jail.
The announcement emerged just 11 days after the ex-leader left prison as his appeal proceeds the guilty verdict on charges of criminal conspiracy connected to efforts to obtain political financing linked to the regime of former Libyan leader.
Time in Custody: Personal Reflections
“Behind bars there is nothing to see, and nothing to do,” he writes in a preview, implying the account is more about his musings while in isolation as opposed to wider commentary on the overcrowded and crisis-hit correctional facilities in the country.
“Silence escapes me, which is missing at the prison, where noise is endless commotion,” he continues. “The racket unfortunately never stops. Yet, similar to barren lands, inner life is strengthened in prison.”
Court Appearance: Describing the Ordeal
During his plea for freedom, Sarkozy was present via screen from his cell, characterizing his incarceration as draining. He stated to the judge: “I wish to commend those working in the jail, who are exceptionally humane, and who helped make this ordeal bearable – because it is a nightmare.”
“I never imagined that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s an ordeal forced upon me. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, deeply straining. It leaves a mark on any prisoner as it’s exhausting.”
Historical Context
Sarkozy, who served as France’s president between 2007 and 2012, set a precedent as past president from the EU and the first leader since WWII in the French Republic to experience jail.
Prior to imprisonment he had said he would use his time for authoring a memoir.
Books in Prison
It remains unclear whether he had time to go through the three books he had in his cell: a biography of Jesus in two parts and Alexandre Dumas’s novel the famous story, where a blameless person ends up incarcerated later flees to exact retribution.
Daily Reality
He was held secluded for his own security in a room roughly 100 square feet including private facilities in the Paris jail in the city. Guards stayed in an adjacent room.
Reports indicated that he consumed only yoghurts during his stay worried that prison cuisine could have been tampered with. Although he had access to cook for himself but he turned this down, according to reports. Unclear remains whether Sarkozy will write about what he ate in prison.
Lawyer’s Statements
Sarkozy’s lawyer, who visited his client each day while he was in prison, stated during proceedings he would be safer released compared to inside. “He received menacing messages, heard shouts after dark plus rapid actions in a neighbouring cell as a detainee harmed themselves.”
Case Background
He entered custody on 21 October when a Paris court sentenced him to five years in prison on conspiracy charges in connection with efforts to acquire political donations during his election campaign.
He disputes the charges and has appealed against the verdict, and a fresh trial is scheduled for next spring.
