The Former French President Set to Write Prison Memoir Detailing His 20 Days Incarcerated
Nicolas Sarkozy plans a personal account in the coming weeks called Diary of a Prisoner, which recounts his time served behind bars.
The announcement emerged just 11 days following the ex-leader left prison as he contests the court ruling on charges of unlawful coordination connected to efforts to acquire political financing from the government of the late Libyan dictator.
Time in Custody: Inner Thoughts
“In prison one sees little, and activities are scarce,” he writes in one passage, implying the book is more about his reflections during seclusion instead of extensive analysis of the strained and struggling French prison system.
“I forget silence, which doesn’t exist at the prison, where one hears a lot to hear,” he adds. “The noise is alas constant. However, akin to empty spaces, inner life grows stronger behind bars.”
Freedom Plea: Sharing the Struggle
At his release request hearing, Sarkozy was present via screen from a room in prison, depicting prison life as exhausting. He expressed in court: “I want to pay tribute to all the prison staff, displaying remarkable compassion, and who have made this ordeal tolerable – because it is a nightmare.”
“I didn’t expect at this stage of life, I’d be in prison. It’s a trial I must endure. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, extremely tough. It affects one every inmate because it’s gruelling.”
Historical Context
The former president, who served as France’s president for a five-year term, became the inaugural ex-leader in the European Union and the initial post-WWII figure of France to serve time in prison.
Ahead of his incarceration he had said he planned to utilize the opportunity to compose an account.
Books in Prison
It is not certain did he manage to go through the three books he brought with him: a biography of Jesus in two parts plus the novel by Dumas the famous story, a plot where a blameless person ends up incarcerated but escapes to take revenge.
Life in Confinement
The former leader was held secluded to protect him in a cell roughly 100 square feet including private facilities at La Santé prison in the city. Guards were stationed in a neighbouring cell.
It was stated his diet consisted solely dairy snacks while inside because he feared prison cuisine may have been contaminated. Options were available to cook for himself but refused this, based on unnamed sources. Unclear remains if he will detail meals during incarceration.
Lawyer’s Statements
Sarkozy’s lawyer, Christophe Ingrain each day throughout the jail term, informed the court he would be safer out of prison compared to inside. “There were menacing messages, listened to yells after dark and emergency responses in a neighbouring cell as a detainee harmed themselves.”
Legal Proceedings
Sarkozy went to prison on 21 October after a French court sentenced him to a five-year sentence on conspiracy charges related to a plan to secure political donations for his presidential bid.
He disputes the charges and is contesting the ruling, with a new trial is scheduled for early next year.
