🔗 Share this article

The ex-president of France will soon publish a book in the coming weeks called A Prisoner’s Diary, chronicling his experience served behind bars.

The revelation emerged just 11 days after Sarkozy was released as his appeal proceeds the court ruling on charges of criminal conspiracy connected to efforts to secure presidential race money provided by the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi.

Prison Experience: Solitary Musings

“In prison one sees little, with little to occupy time,” he reflects in an extract, implying the book centers around his musings from seclusion rather than wider commentary of the strained and struggling correctional facilities in the country.

“Quiet is absent, which is missing in that facility, where one hears endless commotion,” he adds. “The din is alas constant. But, just like the desert, personal reflection grows stronger behind bars.”

Freedom Plea: Sharing the Struggle

During his plea for freedom, Sarkozy participated by video link from his cell, depicting prison life as draining. He had told the court: “I must acknowledge to all the prison staff, showing great humanity, and who helped make this ordeal tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“I didn’t expect that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s a hardship forced upon me. I confess it’s hard, extremely tough. It leaves a mark all who experience it because it’s gruelling.”

Unprecedented Situation

The former president, the ex-head of state between 2007 and 2012, was the first past president of an EU country and the initial post-WWII figure of France to be incarcerated.

Before entering jail he had said he would use his time to write a book.

Books in Prison

It remains unclear whether he had time to review and analyze the volumes he brought with him: a biography of Jesus in two parts and Alexandre Dumas’s novel the classic tale, where a blameless person is imprisoned later flees to take revenge.

Daily Reality

The former leader was placed in isolation for his own security in a room roughly 100 square feet including private facilities at the correctional facility in Paris. Two bodyguards occupied the next cell.

Sources mentioned his diet consisted only yoghurts in prison worried that any food might have been spat on. Although he had access for self-catering but he turned this down, according to reports. It is uncertain if he will detail his dietary choices.

Defense Viewpoint

Sarkozy’s lawyer, who saw him regularly each day while he was in prison, told the release hearing he would be safer out of prison than inside. “He received menacing messages, has heard screaming during nighttime and emergency responses in an adjacent room as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Legal Proceedings

He entered custody in late October when a Paris court sentenced him to a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy related to a plan to secure election financing during his election campaign.

He denies wrongdoing challenging the decision, and another court case set for the coming spring.