Nicolas Sarkozy Set to Write Prison Memoir Chronicling His 20 Days Incarcerated

Nicolas Sarkozy will soon publish a personal account this autumn titled Diary of a Prisoner, detailing his time endured in custody.

The revelation was made less than two weeks following Sarkozy gained freedom while his appeal proceeds his conviction on charges of illegal collaboration in a case to acquire political financing linked to the government of former Libyan leader.

Life Behind Bars: Personal Reflections

“Inside jail one sees little, and nothing to do,” he reflects in one passage, implying the account is more about his musings while in seclusion rather than wider commentary of the overcrowded and troubled correctional facilities in the country.

“I forget silence, not present at the prison, where noise is constant sound,” he continues. “The din is alas constant. Yet, similar to barren lands, personal reflection is fortified while incarcerated.”

Court Appearance: Describing the Ordeal

During his plea for freedom, Sarkozy had appeared by video link from a room in prison, describing his time inside as gruelling. He had told the court: “I want to pay tribute to all the prison staff, who are exceptionally humane, and who helped make this nightmare tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“It never crossed my mind at this stage of life, I’d find myself behind bars. It’s a trial I must endure. I confess it’s hard, it’s very hard. It has an impact on any prisoner as it’s exhausting.”

Historical Context

Sarkozy, the ex-head of state for a five-year term, set a precedent as ex-leader from the EU and the first leader since WWII from France to serve time in prison.

Prior to imprisonment he mentioned he would use his time to write a book.

Books in Prison

Unconfirmed is did he manage to review and analyze the volumes he brought with him: a life story of Jesus spanning two books together with Dumas’s work the classic tale, a plot where a wrongfully accused individual is sentenced to jail but escapes to seek vengeance.

Daily Reality

The former leader was placed in isolation for his own security in a room of about nine sq metres featuring a personal bathroom at the correctional facility in Paris. Two bodyguards stayed in an adjacent room.

It was stated that he had eaten just yogurt while inside worried that prison cuisine may have been contaminated. Although he had access for self-catering but he turned this down, according to reports. Not known is if he will detail what he ate in prison.

Legal Perspective

Sarkozy’s lawyer, who visited his client each day while he was in prison, told the release hearing he would be safer released rather than in custody. “There were threats against his life, listened to yells at night and emergency responses in a neighbouring cell as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Charges and Sentence

His incarceration began in late October after a French court sentenced him to five years in prison for illegal collaboration related to a plan to acquire campaign funds for his 2007 presidential race.

He denies wrongdoing and is contesting the ruling, with a new trial is scheduled for next spring.