The Former French President Preparing to Release Prison Memoir Detailing His 20 Days In Custody

Nicolas Sarkozy plans a book in the coming weeks called Diary of a Prisoner, chronicling his experience served in jail.

The announcement emerged shortly following the former president was released as he contests the guilty verdict on charges of illegal collaboration regarding a scheme to secure election campaign funds from the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi.

Life Behind Bars: Personal Reflections

“Inside jail visibility is limited, and activities are scarce,” he reflects in an extract, suggesting the memoir will focus on his thoughts during solitary confinement as opposed to extensive analysis regarding the strained and struggling jail system in France.

“Silence escapes me, which is missing at the prison, where there is endless commotion,” he adds. “The noise is alas constant. Yet, similar to barren lands, one’s inner world grows stronger behind bars.”

Court Appearance: Describing the Ordeal

While appealing for release, the former leader had appeared remotely from his cell, depicting prison life as exhausting. He had told the court: “I want to pay tribute to all the prison staff, who are exceptionally humane, and who have made this nightmare tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“It never crossed my mind that at 70 years of age, I would end up incarcerated. It’s an ordeal forced upon me. I confess it’s hard, deeply straining. It leaves a mark every inmate because it’s gruelling.”

First of Its Kind

The former president, who led the nation for a five-year term, became the inaugural past president from the EU and the initial post-WWII figure of France to be incarcerated.

Prior to imprisonment he had said he would use his time to compose an account.

Books in Prison

It is not certain if he found the opportunity to go through the texts he took into prison: a two-volume biography of Jesus and Alexandre Dumas’s novel the famous story, in which a wrongfully accused individual is sentenced to jail later flees to exact retribution.

Daily Reality

He was held in isolation due to safety concerns in a space of about nine sq metres including private facilities at La Santé prison located in the capital. Security personnel occupied an adjacent room.

Reports indicated that he consumed only yoghurts in prison because he feared meals provided might have been spat on. Although he had access for self-catering yet he declined, according to reports. Unclear remains whether Sarkozy will write about what he ate in prison.

Lawyer’s Statements

His attorney, who saw him regularly every day while he was in prison, informed the court his safety would improve released compared to inside. “He received menacing messages, listened to yells during nighttime plus rapid actions next door as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Legal Proceedings

Sarkozy went to prison in late October when a Paris court gave him five years in prison for illegal collaboration related to a plan to obtain election financing during his election campaign.

He maintains his innocence and is contesting the ruling, and another court case is scheduled for early next year.