The Former French President to Pen Jail Diary Detailing Two Dozen Days Behind Bars

The ex-president of France will soon publish a memoir next month titled A Prisoner’s Diary, detailing his time spent in custody.

The revelation came just 11 days following the former president left prison as he appeals the guilty verdict for criminal conspiracy in a case to obtain presidential race money linked to the leadership of the late Libyan dictator.

Time in Custody: Inner Thoughts

“Behind bars there is nothing to see, and nothing to do,” he writes in an extract, indicating the book centers around his reflections during seclusion as opposed to a broader observation of the overcrowded and crisis-hit jail system in France.

“Quiet is absent, which is missing in that facility, where there is a lot to hear,” he continues. “The noise unfortunately never stops. Yet, similar to barren lands, one’s inner world grows stronger behind bars.”

Freedom Plea: Sharing the Struggle

During his plea for freedom, Sarkozy had appeared remotely from a room in prison, characterizing his incarceration as gruelling. He stated to the judge: “I must acknowledge the correctional officers, showing great humanity, and who helped make this difficult experience bearable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“I never imagined that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s a trial that has been imposed on me. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, deeply straining. It has an impact on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.”

First of Its Kind

Sarkozy, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, set a precedent as past president of an EU country and the first postwar leader in the French Republic to be incarcerated.

Before entering jail he mentioned he planned to utilize the opportunity for authoring a memoir.

Books in Prison

It is not certain if he found the opportunity to read and critique the three books he brought with him: a life story of Jesus spanning two books and Alexandre Dumas’s novel The Count of Monte Cristo, in which a blameless person is sentenced to jail but escapes to take revenge.

Prison Conditions

He remained secluded to protect him in a room approximately nine square meters including private facilities in the Paris jail in the city. Two bodyguards occupied a neighbouring cell.

It was stated that he consumed only yoghurts during his stay because he feared meals provided might have been spat on. Although he had access to cook for himself yet he declined, based on unnamed sources. Not known is whether Sarkozy will write about what he ate in prison.

Defense Viewpoint

The legal representative, who saw him regularly daily while he was in prison, informed the court he would be safer released compared to inside. “There were threats against his life, heard shouts at night plus rapid actions in a neighbouring cell during an inmate’s self-injury.”

Case Background

Sarkozy went to prison last month after a Paris court sentenced him to a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy in connection with efforts to secure election financing for his presidential bid.

He disputes the charges and is contesting the ruling, and a fresh trial set for next spring.