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While he arrived at La Santé prison this week, Nicolas Sarkozy published a statement brimming with defiance via social media, asserting, "It's not a former president of the republic entering prison this morning, but rather an innocent man." A court of appeal will in time give its view the veracity of this assertion. However, regrettably for the ex-president, the drama and importance of his downfall cannot simply be wished away.

The Legal Judgment

The French head of state between 2007 and 2012, the former president was found guilty of criminal conspiracy to secure prohibited donations from the administration of the former Libyan ruler, the Libyan strongman. Given a five-year prison term, he has been recorded as the first former leader of an European Union nation to go behind bars, and the first French leader since the dishonored head of wartime France, the Vichy leader. Within a nation where the chosen leader holds a almost king-like position, the recent extraordinary spectacle was a seminal moment.

Public Trust and Judicial Responsibility

In an era when faith in political institutions in France has collapsed to the degree where warning signs are evident, it was also a salutary demonstration that the law applies to all. In a poll published recently, two-thirds of respondents indicated that they thought a large number of politicians were dishonest, and nearly nine out of 10 said that many acted mainly out of personal gain. In sentencing the former president and mandating that his sentence should start immediately, the court official, Nathalie Gavarino, said that she factored in both the profoundly severe aspect of the crimes and the fact that they were "could damage the people's faith."

Legal Challenges

Such reflections might be considered unexceptional, notably because that Mr Sarkozy has before been sentenced in distinct bribery proceedings. Yet the Sarkozy trial and its consequences have alarmingly revealed the degree to which across the country, as in various states, the judicial framework is jeopardized by a increasingly common contempt for the judiciary and the effort to control of societal perspectives.

In Trumpian fashion, an exhaustive and meticulous judicial procedure has been falsely depicted by the former president's allies as a legal conspiracy and leftwing vendetta. Following the ruling in September, the ex-leader openly condemned his judgment as unlawful and censured the "hostility" with "no limits" that allegedly motivated it. While high-ranking leaders and advocates from the traditional and radical have saturated public discourse and traditional outlets with the identical arguments, the judge has received numerous death threats.

Public Response

Hearteningly, the citizens largely rejects this narrative. Research following the judgment found clear majorities backing both the proceedings of Mr Sarkozy's trial and his sentencing. Yet the spectacle, and the obvious try to damage the credibility of the court system, was most probably just a trial run. In January, the far-right leader's appeal against a judgment for misuse of campaign money will be heard. If unsuccessful, the political candidate will be excluded from competing in the upcoming election.

Long-term Effects

In a polarised and mistrustful nation, that will be a risky period for the country's courts to navigate. The former president could still be freed ahead of his next legal challenge, subsequent to a petition by his lawyers. However the unfounded and damaging assaults on the legal system at all stages of his case have created a negative standard.