The Former French President Set to Write Prison Memoir Detailing Three Weeks In Custody

Nicolas Sarkozy plans a book in the coming weeks titled A Prisoner’s Diary, detailing his time spent in custody.

This news was made just 11 days after Sarkozy left prison as his appeal proceeds his conviction on charges of unlawful coordination connected to efforts to obtain election campaign funds linked to the regime of former Libyan leader.

Time in Custody: Inner Thoughts

“Inside jail one sees little, with little to occupy time,” he writes in an extract, indicating the account will focus on his reflections while in seclusion instead of wider commentary of the strained and troubled jail system in France.

“Quiet is absent, which is missing at the prison, where there is endless commotion,” he continues. “The noise is alas constant. Yet, similar to barren lands, inner life is fortified behind bars.”

Freedom Plea: Sharing the Struggle

At his release request hearing, Sarkozy had appeared via screen from a room in prison, describing his time inside as gruelling. He expressed in court: “I want to pay tribute to all the prison staff, who are exceptionally humane, and who have made this nightmare tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“It never crossed my mind that in my seventies, I’d find myself behind bars. It’s a hardship I must endure. I confess it’s hard, it’s very hard. It has an impact all who experience it due to its intensity.”

Unprecedented Situation

Sarkozy, who served as France’s president for a five-year term, was the first former head from the EU and the first postwar leader of France to experience jail.

Prior to imprisonment he mentioned he planned to utilize the opportunity for authoring a memoir.

Cell Library

It is not certain whether he had time to go through the texts he took into prison: a two-volume biography of Jesus plus the novel by Dumas the classic tale, a plot where an innocent man is imprisoned then breaks out to exact retribution.

Life in Confinement

Sarkozy remained in isolation to protect him in a space of about nine sq metres including private facilities in the Paris jail located in the capital. Two bodyguards were stationed in the next cell.

Sources mentioned that he had eaten only yoghurts while inside due to concerns prison cuisine could have been tampered with. Although he had access for self-catering yet he declined, according to reports. Unclear remains if the memoir includes what he ate in prison.

Lawyer’s Statements

The legal representative, who saw him regularly every day while he was in prison, stated during proceedings security would be better out of prison compared to inside. “He received threats against his life, has heard screaming at night and emergency responses in a neighbouring cell when a prisoner self-harmed.”

Charges and Sentence

His incarceration began last month after the judiciary gave him a five-year sentence for illegal collaboration in connection with efforts to acquire election financing for his 2007 presidential race.

He denies wrongdoing challenging the decision, and a fresh trial planned for the coming spring.