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While he made his way at the Parisian detention facility on Tuesday, Nicolas Sarkozy posted a declaration brimming with opposition on X, writing, "It's not a former president of the nation entering prison this morning, but rather an innocent man." An appellate court will eventually rule on the accuracy of this assertion. Yet sadly for the ex-president, the drama and importance of his decline cannot be dismissed.

The Conviction

President of France between 2007 and 2012, Mr Sarkozy was convicted of unlawful plotting to obtain illegal financing from the government of the late Libyan dictator, Colonel Gaddafi. Sentenced to a five-year prison term, he has been recorded as the first former leader of an EU country to enter prison, and the earliest French head of state since the shamed head of wartime France, Marshal Pétain. Within a nation where the elected president holds a near-royal standing, the recent remarkable event was a defining instance.

Citizen Confidence and Legal Accountability

During a period when faith in political institutions in France has plummeted to the extent where the lights are flashing red, it was also a sobering reminder that no one is above the law. In a poll released recently, a majority of participants stated that they felt a large number of government figures were unethical, and the vast majority reported that many acted mainly out of self-interest. When convicting the former president and directing that his sentence should begin without delay, the presiding magistrate, the judge, said that she took into account both the extremely serious character of the crimes and the fact that they were "potentially erode citizens' trust."

Judicial Threats

These considerations might be deemed typical, particularly since that Mr Sarkozy has previously been sentenced in separate corruption cases. But the legal proceedings and its aftermath have disturbingly laid bare the degree to which in France, as in different nations, the legal system is endangered by a newly fashionable contempt for the judiciary and the attempted manipulation of public opinion.

Following a populist playbook, an exhaustive and meticulous judicial procedure has been groundlessly presented by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a legal conspiracy and political retaliation. Following the ruling last month, the former president publicly criticized his punishment as illegal and condemned the "hatred" with "no limits" that reportedly inspired it. While senior politicians and advocates from the right and far right have filled the airwaves and traditional outlets with the same talking points, Ms Gavarino has obtained multiple threats.

Public Response

Reassuringly, the population seems unconvinced. A post-verdict poll found significant majorities supporting both the proceedings of the courtroom process and his punishment. But the drama, and the blatant effort to damage the credibility of the court system, was most probably just a trial run. In January, Marine Le Pen's legal challenge against a conviction for embezzlement of political funds will occur. If unsuccessful, the political candidate will be ruled out from running in the 2027 presidential race.

Long-term Effects

Within a divided and skeptical country, that will be a dangerous time for the national legal system to handle. Mr Sarkozy could still be freed ahead of his next legal challenge, following a request by his legal team. However the irresponsible and baseless attacks on the judicial framework before, during and after his proceedings have set a damaging precedent.