Nicolas Sarkozy Preparing to Release Prison Memoir Chronicling Two Dozen Days In Custody
The ex-president of France plans a memoir this autumn called A Prisoner’s Diary, chronicling his time endured in jail.
The announcement came less than two weeks following the ex-leader gained freedom as his appeal proceeds his conviction on charges of illegal collaboration in a case to secure presidential race money linked to the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi.
Prison Experience: Personal Reflections
“In prison one sees little, and activities are scarce,” he reflects in an extract, implying the account will focus on his thoughts while in isolation rather than extensive analysis on the strained and crisis-hit French prison system.
“Quiet is absent, which is missing at the prison, where one hears a lot to hear,” he continues. “The noise unfortunately never stops. Yet, similar to barren lands, inner life grows stronger behind bars.”
Court Appearance: Sharing the Struggle
During his plea for freedom, he participated remotely from inside the facility, depicting prison life as draining. He had told the court: “I want to pay tribute to all the prison staff, displaying remarkable compassion, and who have made this nightmare tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”
“It never crossed my mind that in my seventies, I’d be in prison. It’s a hardship forced upon me. I confess it’s hard, deeply straining. It affects one all who experience it as it’s exhausting.”
First of Its Kind
The former president, who served as France’s president for a five-year term, set a precedent as ex-leader in the European Union and the first postwar leader of France to be incarcerated.
Before entering jail he had said he intended to spend the period for authoring a memoir.
Cell Library
It is not certain whether he had time 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 classic tale, where an innocent man ends up incarcerated but escapes to seek vengeance.
Prison Conditions
Sarkozy remained secluded due to safety concerns in a cell of about nine sq metres including private facilities in the Paris jail in the city. Guards stayed in the next cell.
Sources mentioned that he had eaten only yoghurts during his stay worried that any food may have been contaminated. He had facilities to prepare his own meals yet he declined, based on unnamed sources. Not known is if he will detail what he ate in prison.
Legal Perspective
Sarkozy’s lawyer, Christophe Ingrain every day throughout the jail term, told the release hearing his safety would improve released than inside. “He has faced death threats, has heard screaming after dark and emergency responses next door during an inmate’s self-injury.”
Charges and Sentence
Sarkozy went to prison last month following the judiciary imposed five years in prison on conspiracy charges over a scheme to obtain election financing for his 2007 presidential race.
He denies wrongdoing challenging the decision, and another court case set for next spring.
