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While he arrived at La Santé prison on Tuesday, the former French leader published a statement overflowing with defiance via social media, writing, "It's not a former president of the nation facing incarceration today, but rather an wrongfully accused individual." The appeals judiciary will in time decide regarding the truthfulness of this assertion. However, regrettably for Mr Sarkozy, the turmoil and importance of his downfall cannot be dismissed.

The Conviction

President of France during the 2007-2012 term, Mr Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy to obtain illicit campaign funds from the administration of the former Libyan ruler, the Libyan strongman. Handed a five-year sentence, he has become the initial ex-head of an European Union nation to go behind bars, and the initial French president since the disgraced head of the Vichy regime, the Vichy leader. Across France where the elected president enjoys a quasi-monarchical status, the recent remarkable event was a defining instance.

National Faith and Legal Consequences

During a period when confidence in political systems in France has plummeted to the degree where alarms are sounding, it was also a sobering reminder that everyone is subject to the law. As per a study issued on Tuesday, two-thirds of respondents said that they felt a large number of elected officials were unethical, and the vast majority reported that most operated primarily out of individual benefit. While judging Mr Sarkozy and mandating that his prison term should start immediately, the judge, Nathalie Gavarino, declared that she took into account both the profoundly severe aspect of the crimes and the fact that they were "potentially erode the people's faith."

Courtroom Struggles

These considerations might be seen as ordinary, particularly since that Mr Sarkozy has previously been sentenced in distinct bribery proceedings. However the legal proceedings and its aftermath have disturbingly laid bare the scope to which in France, as in various states, the rule of law is endangered by a newly fashionable disrespect toward legal institutions and the try to influence of societal perspectives.

Following a populist playbook, an thorough and detailed court case has been groundlessly presented by his backers as a courtroom scheme and leftwing vendetta. Following the ruling last month, the former president openly condemned his judgment as invalid and decried the "animosity" with "no boundaries" that supposedly drove it. Since high-ranking leaders and backers from the right and far right have dominated media discussions and right-leaning media with the identical arguments, the judicial figure has obtained various menaces.

Public Response

Encouragingly, the citizens largely rejects this narrative. A survey after the ruling found comfortable majorities supporting both the handling of Mr Sarkozy's trial and his conviction. Yet the drama, and the naked attempt to damage the credibility of the court system, was in all likelihood only a preliminary test. During winter, the National Rally figure's court petition against a guilty verdict for diversion of electoral finances will take place. Should she lose it, the far-right National Rally leader will be disqualified from participating in the upcoming election.

Coming Consequences

Across a fragmented and doubtful society, that will be a perilous moment for the country's courts to manage. Mr Sarkozy might eventually exit prior to his appeal hearing, following a request by his lawyers. However the reckless and unfounded criticisms on the court system at all stages of his proceedings have set a damaging precedent.