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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy entered prison today. At around 09:15 this morning, the former president left his apartment, accompanied by his wife Carla Bruni, to arrive 25 minutes later at the “La Santé” prison in the Montparnasse area, where he will begin serving his five-year sentence.
Hundreds of supporters, including Sarkozy's family, friends and former close associates, gathered in the early hours of the morning in front of his home in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, singing the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise," in chorus.
The call for the meeting was made by his son, Louis Sarkozy, 28, who wrote on social media: "All those who want to express their support for my father, we are waiting for you at 8:30 am at the corner of rue Pierre-Guérin and rue de la Source. We will be by his side to show him our love, respect and eternal loyalty."
Sarkozy has been convicted in the first instance of "criminal association" in the case of Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign.
Even current President Emmanuel Macron, despite the criticism, has shown his human side towards Sarkozy. He received him at the Elysee Palace on Monday for more than an hour. "It is normal, from a human point of view, to receive one of my predecessors in such a situation ," Macron said.
Among the many figures who expressed support were former prime ministers Edouard Balladur and François Fillon, as well as the leader of the Rassemblement National, Marine Le Pen.
Although convicted, Sarkozy is being held in prison as "not guilty" pending an appeal. He is expected to remain in prison for only a few weeks, due to his age of 70 and health condition, before being transferred to house arrest with an electronic bracelet.
In an interview with Le Figaro, Sarkozy said: "My life is like a novel." He will stay in an 11-square-meter cell, with armored windows, in isolation for security reasons. His cell neighbors will be drug traffickers and convicted terrorists. The former president will not have a mobile phone, but he will have a small television and the right to a one-hour walk a day, under the supervision of three guards.
From the list of permitted items he received, Sarkozy humorously said: "I can have a djellaba (traditional Maghreb clothing), a prayer rug, but no compass." He can have a scarf (no longer than 1 meter), a fork, a knife with a rounded tip and a cooking plate. He will also have the right to three meetings a week with family and friends, including the Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin.
Prison authorities have suggested that he take earplugs to avoid hearing the screams of other prisoners at night. For the first few days after entering the cell, Sarkozy has chosen to take two books with him: "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "Jesus," a biography by Jean-Christian Petitfils.
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