Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has begun a book tour promoting “Journal d’un prisonnier,” a firsthand account of his recent detention following a conviction for corruption[[1]].Sarkozy, 70, was sentenced to five years in prison for securing illicit funding from Libya during his 2007 presidential campaign, though he was released pending appeal after serving 20 days at La Santé prison[[1]]. The case marks an unprecedented moment in French history, as it is the first time a former president has been imprisoned, and the bookS release is already stirring controversy, particularly among victims’ families involved in the original trial[[3]].
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began a book tour on Wednesday, marking the release of a journal detailing his three weeks in detention following a conviction in a Libyan funding case.
Sarkozy, 70, held a signing event for “Journal d’un prisonnier” (A Prisoner’s Journal) at a bookstore in Paris, according to reports. The former head of state was sentenced to five years in prison in September for his role in securing illicit funding from Libya for his 2007 presidential campaign. He was released on November 10 after spending 20 days in custody at the La Santé prison in Paris, pending appeal.
The case and subsequent imprisonment of a former French president is a significant development, highlighting the reach of anti-corruption efforts and the principle of accountability, even at the highest levels of power. Sarkozy expressed his joy at returning to public life, writing on X (formerly Twitter) last week, “So happy to be back on the roads of France to meet my readers. It delights me so much!”
In his book, Sarkozy recounts kneeling to pray on the first day of his incarceration, October 21, after receiving his five-year sentence. “I prayed to have the strength to bear the cross of this injustice,” he wrote, continuing to maintain his innocence throughout the proceedings.
A Shift in Perspective?
Sarkozy also dedicates portions of the book to his interactions with relatives of victims of the 1989 DC-10 bombing, who were civil parties in the Libyan funding trial. He describes these encounters as “the most moving moments,” while also stating he was “affected by the violence of some of the remarks made to me.” The DC-10 attack, orchestrated by Libyan intelligence services, claimed the lives of 170 people of 18 nationalities over Niger on September 19, 1989.
Families of the victims expressed their distress on Tuesday regarding Sarkozy’s portrayal of these meetings. “Once again, Nicolas Sarkozy reverses the roles, pretending to be the true victim, that of the pain of the families of the DC-10. This is a deliberate choice: to distort the facts and evade the truth,” stated a communiqué from the collective “Les Filles du DC-10,” a group comprised of daughters, mothers, and sisters of those killed in the bombing.
During his detention, Sarkozy was under constant guard by two security officers and was confined to his cell for 23 hours a day, with exceptions made only for visits. The Paris Criminal Court found him guilty of knowingly allowing his associates to solicit funding from the government of Muammar Gaddafi to secretly finance his successful 2007 presidential campaign.
This imprisonment marks an unprecedented event in the history of the French Republic for a former president. While released, Sarkozy is currently prohibited from leaving France, contacting other defendants in the case, and communicating with certain individuals, including current Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, who visited him in prison on October 29.
S.N. with agencies / Les Inspirations ÉCO
