The Former French President to Pen Jail Diary Detailing Two Dozen Days Behind Bars
The ex-president of France is preparing a personal account this autumn titled Notes from a Cell, which recounts his time served in custody.
The revelation was made less than two weeks following the ex-leader left prison while he contests the court ruling for criminal conspiracy regarding a scheme to obtain presidential race money from the government of the late Libyan dictator.
Prison Experience: Inner Thoughts
“Inside jail there is nothing to see, and nothing to do,” he reflects in an extract, implying the book is more about his thoughts during isolation instead of a broader observation regarding the strained and crisis-hit French prison system.
“I forget silence, which doesn’t exist in La Santé, where one hears endless commotion,” he continues. “The noise unfortunately never stops. Yet, similar to barren lands, personal reflection is strengthened behind bars.”
Freedom Plea: Recounting the Hardship
During his plea for freedom, he had appeared by video link from inside the facility, describing his time inside as draining. He had told the court: “I wish to commend the correctional officers, who are exceptionally humane, and who helped make this difficult experience tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”
“It never crossed my mind that in my seventies, I’d find myself behind bars. It’s an ordeal that has been imposed on me. I confess it’s hard, it’s very hard. It has an impact every inmate as it’s exhausting.”
Unprecedented Situation
Sarkozy, the ex-head of state between 2007 and 2012, set a precedent as ex-leader from the EU and the first leader since WWII of France to be incarcerated.
Ahead of his incarceration he declared he intended to spend the period to compose an account.
Books in Prison
It is not certain if he found the opportunity to review and analyze the three books he had in his cell: a life story of Jesus spanning two books together with Dumas’s work The Count of Monte Cristo, in which an innocent man is imprisoned but escapes to take revenge.
Daily Reality
The former leader was held in solitary confinement for his own security in a space approximately nine square meters with his own shower and toilet in the Paris jail in the city. Two bodyguards were stationed in an adjacent room.
Reports indicated that he had eaten solely dairy snacks during his stay because he feared any food may have been contaminated. Although he had access to cook for himself yet he declined, according to reports. It is uncertain whether Sarkozy will write about his dietary choices.
Legal Perspective
The legal representative, who saw him regularly daily during the incarceration, stated during proceedings security would be better outside jail than inside. “He has faced menacing messages, heard shouts during nighttime and the urgent intervention in an adjacent room as a detainee harmed themselves.”
Case Background
His incarceration began last month when a French court gave him a half-decade term on conspiracy charges related to a plan to obtain campaign funds during his election campaign.
He disputes the charges and is contesting the ruling, with a new trial is scheduled for early next year.
