The Former President's First Day in Prison: No Individual Stands Above Legal Justice

As he was transported at La Santé prison this week, the former French leader published a declaration filled with resistance via social media, asserting, "It's not a former president of the republic entering prison this morning, but rather an wrongfully accused individual." The appeals judiciary is set to give its view the truthfulness of this assertion. But unfortunately for the ex-president, the spectacle and significance of his downfall cannot simply be wished away.

The Legal Judgment

President of France between 2007 and 2012, the former president was convicted of criminal conspiracy to obtain illicit campaign funds from the regime of the deceased Libyan leader, Colonel Gaddafi. Given a half-decade incarceration, he has become the initial ex-head of an EU member state to go behind bars, and the earliest French head of state since the disgraced head of the Vichy regime, Marshal Pétain. Within a nation where the chosen leader possesses a quasi-monarchical status, this week's extraordinary spectacle was a seminal moment.

Citizen Confidence and Legal Accountability

During a period when confidence in political systems in France has declined drastically to the degree where the lights are flashing red, it was also a salutary demonstration that no one is above the law. According to a survey published recently, two-thirds of respondents indicated that they believed a most of elected officials were dishonest, and almost 90% said that the majority acted mainly out of personal gain. When convicting Mr Sarkozy and mandating that his sentence should start immediately, the judge, the judicial authority, said that she took into account both the extremely serious character of the crimes and the fact that they were "could damage public confidence."

Legal Challenges

Such reflections might be considered unexceptional, especially given that the ex-president has before been found guilty in other graft trials. But the Sarkozy trial and its fallout have disturbingly laid bare the scope to which within the nation, as in other countries, the rule of law is endangered by a increasingly common disdain for courts and the attempted manipulation of public opinion.

Using divisive tactics, an exhaustive and meticulous legal process has been groundlessly presented by his backers as a judicial plot and ideological revenge. Subsequent to the decision in September, the former president publicly criticized his judgment as illegal and condemned the "animosity" with "no boundaries" that supposedly drove it. As senior politicians and supporters from the traditional and radical have dominated media discussions and traditional outlets with the same talking points, Ms Gavarino has received multiple threats.

Societal Feedback

Reassuringly, the public largely rejects this narrative. A survey after the ruling found significant majorities supporting both the handling of the courtroom process and his conviction. But the drama, and the blatant effort to undermine the reputation of the court system, was most probably merely a dress rehearsal. Next year, the National Rally figure's legal challenge against a guilty verdict for embezzlement of political funds will be heard. If unsuccessful, the far-right National Rally leader will be excluded from participating in the future campaign.

Future Implications

Within a divided and skeptical country, that will be a dangerous time for the country's courts to navigate. The former president could still be freed ahead of his next legal challenge, subsequent to a petition by his legal team. However the reckless and unfounded criticisms on the judicial framework before, during and after his case have established a harmful example.