Nicolas Sarkozy Set to Write Jail Diary Chronicling Two Dozen Days Behind Bars
The ex-president of France is preparing a memoir in the coming weeks called A Prisoner’s Diary, which recounts his time served behind bars.
The announcement came less than two weeks following Sarkozy gained freedom as he appeals the guilty verdict on charges of illegal collaboration in a case to obtain presidential race money from the government of former Libyan leader.
Time in Custody: Solitary Musings
“In prison one sees little, with little to occupy time,” he reflects in a preview, implying the book will focus on his reflections from isolation as opposed to a broader observation regarding the overcrowded and troubled French prison system.
“Silence escapes me, which is missing in La Santé, where there is a lot to hear,” he continues. “The racket unfortunately never stops. But, just like the desert, one’s inner world is strengthened while incarcerated.”
Freedom Plea: Describing the Ordeal
During his plea for freedom, the former leader was present remotely from inside the facility, depicting prison life as draining. He stated to the judge: “I must acknowledge to all the prison staff, showing great humanity, and who helped make this difficult experience bearable – as it truly is one.”
“It never crossed my mind at this stage of life, I’d be in prison. It’s a hardship forced upon me. I confess it’s hard, deeply straining. It affects one every inmate as it’s exhausting.”
Unprecedented Situation
He, who served as France’s president between 2007 and 2012, was the first ex-leader from the EU and the initial post-WWII figure from France to experience jail.
Before entering jail he declared he would use his time to write a book.
Books in Prison
It remains unclear whether he had time to read and critique the three books he brought with him: a life story of Jesus spanning two books plus the novel by Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo, a plot where a blameless person is sentenced to jail but escapes to exact retribution.
Life in Confinement
Sarkozy was placed in isolation due to safety concerns in a cell roughly 100 square feet including private facilities in the Paris jail in Paris. Security personnel were stationed in an adjacent room.
Sources mentioned his diet consisted only yoghurts in prison worried that meals provided could have been tampered with. He had facilities to prepare his own meals yet he declined, as per accounts. Unclear remains whether Sarkozy will write about meals during incarceration.
Lawyer’s Statements
The legal representative, who saw him regularly each day while he was in prison, stated during proceedings security would be better out of prison than inside. “He received menacing messages, listened to yells at night and emergency responses in an adjacent room as a detainee harmed themselves.”
Case Background
Sarkozy went to prison last month after the judiciary imposed a five-year sentence for illegal collaboration related to a plan to secure political donations for his presidential bid.
He denies wrongdoing and has appealed against the verdict, and a fresh trial is scheduled for the coming spring.
