Sarkozy's First Day in Prison: No Individual Stands Above the Law

As he made his way at La Santé prison this week, the former French leader posted a message overflowing with defiance via social media, stating, "It's not a former president of the nation who is being jailed this morning, but rather an wrongfully accused individual." A court of appeal will eventually decide regarding the accuracy of his claim. Yet sadly for Mr Sarkozy, the spectacle and impact of his decline cannot simply be wished away.

The Conviction

France's leader from 2007 to 2012, Mr Sarkozy was found guilty of illegal collaboration to obtain illicit campaign funds from the government of the late Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. Sentenced to a five-year sentence, he has been recorded as the initial ex-head of an EU country to go behind bars, and the initial French president since the shamed head of the Vichy regime, Marshal Pétain. Across France where the democratically selected head of state enjoys a near-royal standing, this week's extraordinary spectacle was a seminal moment.

Citizen Confidence and Legal Consequences

At a time when trust in government bodies in France has declined drastically to the degree where warning signs are evident, it was also a salutary demonstration that the law applies to all. As per a study released recently, over 65% of those surveyed stated that they believed a most of government figures were corrupt, and the vast majority claimed that the majority operated primarily out of personal gain. In sentencing the former president and mandating that his prison term should commence promptly, the presiding magistrate, the judicial authority, noted that she took into account both the extremely serious character of the crimes and the fact that they were "could damage citizens' trust."

Judicial Threats

Such reflections might be seen as ordinary, especially given that Mr Sarkozy has before been sentenced in separate corruption cases. But the legal proceedings and its aftermath have alarmingly revealed the degree to which within the nation, as in other countries, the rule of law is threatened by a increasingly common contempt for the judiciary and the try to influence of societal perspectives.

In Trumpian fashion, an comprehensive and precise legal process has been baselessly portrayed by his backers as a courtroom scheme and leftwing vendetta. After the verdict recently, the former president publicly criticized his sentence as illegal and decried the "hatred" with "no restraints" that reportedly inspired it. As high-ranking leaders and supporters from the traditional and radical have filled the airwaves and right-leaning media with the similar rhetoric, Ms Gavarino has received numerous death threats.

Public Response

Reassuringly, the population does not appear to be buying it. A post-verdict poll found significant majorities supporting both the conduct of Mr Sarkozy's trial and his punishment. However the drama, and the blatant effort to weaken the standing of the judicial system, was most probably just a trial run. During winter, the National Rally figure's legal challenge against a conviction for diversion of electoral finances will occur. If unsuccessful, the political candidate will be ruled out from participating in the upcoming election.

Coming Consequences

Across a fragmented and doubtful society, that will be a perilous moment for the national legal system to manage. The former president may yet be released ahead of his next legal challenge, subsequent to a petition by his lawyers. Yet the unfounded and damaging assaults on the court system at all stages of his case have created a negative standard.