The Guardian view on Sarkozy's first day in prison: no citizen is above the law | Editorial

"As he was transported to La Sante prison in Paris on Tuesday, Nicolas Sarkozy posted a message brimming with defiance on X, writing It's not a former president of the republic who is being jailed this morning, it's an innocent man. A court of appeal will eventually give its view on the veracity of the second clause of that statement. But unfortunately for Mr Sarkozy, the drama and significance of his fall cannot simply be wished away."

"President of France between 2007 and 2012, Mr Sarkozy was found guilty of criminal conspiracy to obtain illicit campaign funds from the regime of the late Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. Handed a fiveyear sentence, he has become the first former leader of an EU country to go behind bars, and the first French leader since the disgraced head of Vichy France, Philippe Petain. In a country in which the elected president enjoys a quasi-monarchical status, Tuesday's extraordinary spectacle was a seminal moment."

"At a time when faith in political institutions in France has collapsed to the point where the lights are flashing red, it was also a salutary demonstration that no one is above the law. In a poll published on Tuesday in Le Monde newspaper, two-thirds of respondents said that they believed a majority of politicians were corrupt, and nearly nine out of 10 said that most acted mainly out of self-interest."

Nicolas Sarkozy, president from 2007 to 2012, was convicted of criminal conspiracy to obtain illicit campaign funds from Muammar Gaddafi and sentenced to five years in prison. He became the first former leader of an EU country jailed and the first French leader imprisoned since Philippe Petain. Sarkozy posted a defiant message while being transported to La Sante. Public trust in political institutions in France is extremely low, with polls showing widespread belief in corruption among politicians. Judge Nathalie Gavarino cited the grave nature of the offences and their likely undermining of citizens' trust, and concerns have risen about contempt for the judiciary and attempted manipulation of the judicial system.

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