Nicolas Sarkozy is going to prison on October 21. Historical precedent for France and the EU

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is scheduled to appear on October 21 in the Paris prison of La Santé to begin serving 5 years imprisonment. The date and place were given to him on Monday afternoon. The decision follows the judgement of 25 September 2025, which is enforceable immediately, regardless of the appeal announced by the defence. Due to the position of the convict, settlement in a separate, protected part of the unit is expected, although prison services do not comment on organizational details.

Photo: "Nicolas Sarkozy – planet economical Forum yearly gathering 2011" by planet economical Forum, Wikimedia Commons

Background and content of the judgment

Sarkozy was found guilty of a "criminal collusion" on the alleged financing of his 2007 winning presidential run by Muammar Gaddafi regime. The court pointed out the importance of violations in terms of citizens' assurance in the electoral process and public order. At the same time, the erstwhile president was cleared of any of the most serious charges, including passive corruption and concealing fraud of public funds. This settlement not only orders a multi-year investigation, but besides sets limits on political and criminal work in cases where politics intersect with run funding.

Appeals and what's next

The appeal was announced by both parties — defence and the financial prosecutors — which gives the appeal court full freedom to measure the decisions and the penalty. However, the appeal itself does not halt the execution of the judgment, so Sarkozy will start the punishment in La Santé on 21 October. After being seated, he will be able to apply for a change in the manner of enforcement of penalties, including electronic surveillance, home arrest or conditional release. The court will decide on any modifications, taking into account the statutory and individual circumstances of the defendant.

Wider Dimension

This is the first case in the contemporary past of France and the unprecedented situation in the European Union erstwhile the erstwhile president of a associate State goes to prison. The substance immediately goes beyond the national framework. It is simply a test for legal standards and benchmarks in the debate on transparency of policy funding.

DF, thefad.pl