🔗 Share this article

Nicolas Sarkozy will soon publish a memoir in the coming weeks titled A Prisoner’s Diary, detailing his experience endured in custody.

The revelation was made just 11 days after Sarkozy was released as he contests the court ruling for criminal conspiracy connected to efforts to acquire election campaign funds linked to the leadership of former Libyan leader.

Life Behind Bars: Solitary Musings

“In prison one sees little, with little to occupy time,” he reflects in a preview, suggesting the account will focus on his musings while in seclusion instead of a broader observation on the overcrowded and struggling jail system in France.

“Quiet is absent, which is missing at the prison, where noise is a lot to hear,” he adds. “The racket persists relentlessly. Yet, similar to barren lands, one’s inner world is fortified behind bars.”

Freedom Plea: Sharing the Struggle

During his plea for freedom, he had appeared remotely from a room in prison, describing his time inside as exhausting. He expressed in court: “I want to pay tribute those working in the jail, who are exceptionally humane, and who have made this nightmare manageable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“I never imagined at this stage of life, I’d be in prison. It’s a hardship I must endure. I confess it’s hard, extremely tough. It has an impact on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.”

Unprecedented Situation

Sarkozy, who served as France’s president for a five-year term, was the first past president of an EU country and the first postwar leader of France to be incarcerated.

Ahead of his incarceration he mentioned he would use his time for authoring a memoir.

Reading Material

It remains unclear if he found the opportunity to go through the three books he took into prison: a biography of Jesus in two parts and Alexandre Dumas’s novel The Count of Monte Cristo, a plot where a wrongfully accused individual is imprisoned then breaks out to seek vengeance.

Life in Confinement

The former leader was placed in solitary confinement to protect him in a room of about nine sq metres including private facilities in the Paris jail in the city. Security personnel were stationed in a neighbouring cell.

It was stated that he had eaten just yogurt during his stay because he feared any food might have been spat on. Although he had access to cook for himself yet he declined, as per accounts. It is uncertain whether Sarkozy will write about meals during incarceration.

Defense Viewpoint

Sarkozy’s lawyer, who saw him regularly every day throughout the jail term, stated during proceedings he would be safer released compared to inside. “There were threats against his life, listened to yells during nighttime plus rapid actions in an adjacent room during an inmate’s self-injury.”

Case Background

His incarceration began on 21 October after the judiciary imposed a half-decade term for illegal collaboration related to a plan to secure campaign funds for his 2007 presidential race.

He maintains his innocence and has appealed against the verdict, and a fresh trial planned for the coming spring.