Nicolas Sarkozy will soon publish a memoir this autumn named A Prisoner’s Diary, detailing his experience served in custody.
This news emerged just 11 days after the ex-leader was released while his appeal proceeds the court ruling related to unlawful coordination regarding a scheme to acquire election campaign funds from the leadership of former Libyan leader.
“In prison there is nothing to see, with little to occupy time,” he writes in a preview, implying the memoir is more about his thoughts during solitary confinement as opposed to wider commentary on the packed and crisis-hit French prison system.
“Silence escapes me, not present in that facility, where one hears endless commotion,” he adds. “The noise is alas constant. However, akin to empty spaces, one’s inner world is strengthened behind bars.”
While appealing for release, the former leader had appeared via screen from inside the facility, describing his time inside as draining. He expressed in court: “I want to pay tribute those working in the jail, displaying remarkable compassion, and who helped make this nightmare tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”
“I didn’t expect that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s a hardship I must endure. I admit it’s difficult, extremely tough. It affects one on any prisoner due to its intensity.”
He, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, became the inaugural ex-leader from the EU and the initial post-WWII figure from France to serve time in prison.
Ahead of his incarceration he mentioned he intended to spend the period for authoring a memoir.
It remains unclear whether he had time to read and critique the texts he took into prison: a life story of Jesus spanning two books plus the novel by Dumas the classic tale, in which a blameless person is sentenced to jail but escapes to take revenge.
Sarkozy remained secluded to protect him in a cell roughly 100 square feet including private facilities in the Paris jail in the city. Two bodyguards were stationed in an adjacent room.
It was stated his diet consisted solely dairy snacks while inside due to concerns meals provided may have been contaminated. Options were available to cook for himself but he turned this down, as per accounts. Unclear remains whether Sarkozy will write about his dietary choices.
The legal representative, who saw him regularly each day while he was in prison, told the release hearing his safety would improve outside jail than inside. “There were menacing messages, listened to yells during nighttime plus rapid actions next door as a detainee harmed themselves.”
His incarceration began last month when a Paris court imposed a five-year sentence on conspiracy charges in connection with efforts to acquire political donations for his 2007 presidential race.
He disputes the charges and is contesting the ruling, and another court case set for early next year.
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