Nicolas Sarkozy to Pen Jail Diary Chronicling His 20 Days In Custody

The ex-president of France will soon publish a book in the coming weeks titled A Prisoner’s Diary, which recounts his experience endured in jail.

The revelation came less than two weeks after the ex-leader left prison while he contests his conviction for unlawful coordination in a case to obtain presidential race money provided by the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

Life Behind Bars: Solitary Musings

“In prison one sees little, and nothing to do,” he writes in a preview, implying the account will focus on his reflections from solitary confinement as opposed to a broader observation on the overcrowded and troubled jail system in France.

“Silence escapes me, not present in La Santé, where noise is endless commotion,” he continues. “The din persists relentlessly. Yet, similar to barren lands, inner life is fortified behind bars.”

Freedom Plea: Recounting the Hardship

While appealing for release, Sarkozy participated remotely from a room in prison, describing his time inside as gruelling. He stated to the judge: “I must acknowledge those working in the jail, showing great humanity, and who helped make this nightmare manageable – as it truly is one.”

“I didn’t expect that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s a trial forced upon me. I admit it’s difficult, it’s very hard. It affects one every inmate as it’s exhausting.”

Unprecedented Situation

Sarkozy, who led the nation between 2007 and 2012, set a precedent as past president of an EU country and the initial post-WWII figure from France to experience jail.

Ahead of his incarceration he declared he would use his time for authoring a memoir.

Books in Prison

It remains unclear did he manage to go through the three books he took into prison: a biography of Jesus in two parts and Alexandre Dumas’s novel The Count of Monte Cristo, in which an innocent man is imprisoned then breaks out to take revenge.

Prison Conditions

The former leader was placed in isolation due to safety concerns in a cell roughly 100 square feet with his own shower and toilet at the correctional facility located in the capital. Guards were stationed in a neighbouring cell.

It was stated that he had eaten solely dairy snacks in prison worried that meals provided may have been contaminated. Options were available to prepare his own meals yet he declined, according to reports. Not known is if he will detail meals during incarceration.

Lawyer’s Statements

His attorney, Christophe Ingrain every day while he was in prison, informed the court his safety would improve outside jail than inside. “There were threats against his life, heard shouts during nighttime and emergency responses in an adjacent room as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Legal Proceedings

Sarkozy went to prison on 21 October following the judiciary imposed five years in prison for illegal collaboration in connection with efforts to secure campaign funds during his election campaign.

He denies wrongdoing and has appealed against the verdict, and a fresh trial set for the coming spring.