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Nicolas Sarkozy is preparing a personal account this autumn titled Diary of a Prisoner, chronicling his time spent in jail.

The revelation was made just 11 days following Sarkozy left prison while he appeals the court ruling for illegal collaboration in a case to acquire presidential race money from the regime of former Libyan leader.

Life Behind Bars: Personal Reflections

“Behind bars there is nothing to see, and activities are scarce,” he reflects in one passage, indicating the memoir will focus on his reflections from isolation rather than a broader observation on the packed and crisis-hit jail system in France.

“I forget silence, which doesn’t exist at the prison, where there is endless commotion,” he continues. “The racket unfortunately never stops. However, akin to empty spaces, personal reflection is fortified behind bars.”

Freedom Plea: Describing the Ordeal

During his plea for freedom, he had appeared remotely from his cell, describing his time inside as draining. He had told the court: “I must acknowledge to all the prison staff, showing great humanity, easing this ordeal tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“It never crossed my mind at this stage of life, I’d find myself behind bars. It’s a hardship forced upon me. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, it’s very hard. It affects one on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.”

Historical Context

He, who served as France’s president for a five-year term, set a precedent as ex-leader from the EU and the first postwar leader of France to serve time in prison.

Ahead of his incarceration he mentioned he would use his time to write a book.

Reading Material

It remains unclear if he found the opportunity to review and analyze the three books he brought with him: a two-volume biography of Jesus together with Dumas’s work the classic tale, a plot where an innocent man is imprisoned later flees to seek vengeance.

Life in Confinement

Sarkozy was held in isolation due to safety concerns in a cell of about nine sq metres featuring a personal bathroom at La Santé prison in the city. Guards occupied the next cell.

It was stated that he consumed only yoghurts in prison because he feared any food might have been spat on. Options were available to prepare his own meals but refused this, based on unnamed sources. Unclear remains if the memoir includes meals during incarceration.

Legal Perspective

The legal representative, who saw him regularly daily during the incarceration, informed the court his safety would improve released than inside. “There were death threats, heard shouts after dark and emergency responses next door as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Charges and Sentence

Sarkozy went to prison on 21 October after the judiciary gave him five years in prison for criminal conspiracy related to a plan to acquire campaign funds for his presidential bid.

He disputes the charges and is contesting the ruling, with a new trial set for next spring.