The Former French President Preparing to Release Prison Memoir Chronicling Three Weeks Behind Bars

The ex-president of France will soon publish a book in the coming weeks titled A Prisoner’s Diary, chronicling his time endured behind bars.

The revelation came just 11 days after Sarkozy gained freedom while his appeal proceeds his conviction for unlawful coordination regarding a scheme to obtain political financing provided by the regime of Muammar Gaddafi.

Prison Experience: Personal Reflections

“Behind bars one sees little, and nothing to do,” he notes in an extract, suggesting the book will focus on his thoughts from seclusion as opposed to extensive analysis regarding the packed and troubled French prison system.

“Silence escapes me, which is missing in La Santé, where one hears endless commotion,” he states. “The racket is alas constant. However, akin to empty spaces, one’s inner world is strengthened while incarcerated.”

Freedom Plea: Describing the Ordeal

At his release request hearing, Sarkozy was present via screen from a room in prison, describing his time inside as draining. He stated to the judge: “I wish to commend those working in the jail, displaying remarkable compassion, and who have made this nightmare bearable – because it is a nightmare.”

“It never crossed my mind that in my seventies, I would end up incarcerated. It’s a hardship that has been imposed on me. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, deeply straining. It leaves a mark all who experience it as it’s exhausting.”

First of Its Kind

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 in the French Republic to be incarcerated.

Before entering jail he had said he would use his time to compose an account.

Books in Prison

Unconfirmed is whether he had time to go through the texts he took into prison: a life story of Jesus spanning two books plus the novel by Dumas the famous story, a plot where a blameless person is sentenced to jail later flees to exact retribution.

Daily Reality

He was held in solitary confinement due to safety concerns in a cell roughly 100 square feet including private facilities at La Santé prison in the city. Two bodyguards stayed in an adjacent room.

Sources mentioned that he consumed only yoghurts while inside worried that any food might have been spat on. Although he had access for self-catering yet he declined, as per accounts. Not known is if he will detail what he ate in prison.

Legal Perspective

His attorney, who saw him regularly each day throughout the jail term, told the release hearing he would be safer out of prison rather than in custody. “There were menacing messages, listened to yells during nighttime and the urgent intervention next door as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Case Background

Sarkozy went to prison on 21 October following a French court imposed a five-year sentence for illegal collaboration related to a plan to acquire political donations during his election campaign.

He disputes the charges and is contesting the ruling, and another court case is scheduled for next spring.