With a look of distress, Nicolas Sarkozy faced a throng of people as he made his way to prison this morning, sharing a tearful farewell kiss with his wife, Carla Bruni, before commencing his five-year sentence.

The former French president, now 70, arrived at La Santé prison on Tuesday, greeted by the sound of inmates calling out from their cells with phrases like “Welcome Sarkozy!” and “Sarkozy’s here.”

This conviction concludes years of legal proceedings surrounding allegations that Sarkozy’s 2007 presidential campaign was funded by millions in cash from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was later overthrown and killed during the Arab Spring.

In an interview with La Tribune Dimanche newspaper prior to his imprisonment, Sarkozy expressed resilience, stating, “I’m not afraid of prison. I’ll keep my head held high, including at the prison gates.”

Sarkozy is expected to endure challenging conditions at Paris’s La Santé prison, likely confined to a nine-square-meter cell in the isolation wing. His lawyer, Jean-Michel Darrois, mentioned that Sarkozy has prepared with warm clothing and earplugs, anticipating the cold and noise.

Sebastien Cauwel, head of the renowned La Santé prison, informed RTL Radio that Sarkozy will have access to the exercise yard twice daily and an activities room, both in isolation, and will remain alone within his cell.

Speaking outside the Paris prison moments after the former French president entered, Sarkozy’s lawyers revealed his legal team has already lodged a request for parole, with their mission being to take him out ‘as quickly as possible’.

As Sarkozy prepared to begin his prison term, he posted a message on social media repeating his claims that he is an ‘innocent man’ and said he feels a ‘deep sorrow’ for France. 

‘As I prepare to cross the walls of La Sante prison, my thoughts go out to the French people of all walks of life and opinions,’ he said.

‘I want to tell them with my unwavering strength that it is not a former President of the Republic who is being locked up this morning, it is an innocent person.’

He added: ‘I feel deep sorrow for France, which finds itself humiliated by the expression of a vengeance that has taken hatred to an unprecedented level. I have no doubt. The truth will triumph. But the price to pay will have been crushing.’

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy leave their Paris home on Tuesday as Nicolas Sarkozy heads to prison to serve time for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy kisses his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy before leaving in a car on the day of his incarceration at the La Sante prison

France’s former president Nicolas Sarkozy (C) waves to his supporters as he leaves his residence to present himself to La Sante Prison

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy blows a kiss as his husband former French President Nicolas Sarkozy heads to prison

Nicolas Sarkozy (C) hugs his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy as he leaves his residence

Supporters of France’s former president Nicolas Sarkozy gather outside his residence ahead of his departure to La Sante prison for incarceration on a five-year prison sentence

More than 100 people stood outside the jail this morning, after his son Louis, 28, called on supporters to rally in support of his father in the high-end Paris neighbourhood where the former French president lives. 

Another son, Pierre, called for a message of love – ‘nothing else, please’.

Supporters chanted ‘Nicolas, Nicolas’ as he left his and stepped into the car that would take him to jail after sharing a final kiss with Bruni and waving goodbye to the crowds.

Sarkozy had told Le Figaro he would take three books for his first week behind bars, including Alexandre Dumas’ ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ – the story of a man unjustly imprisoned who plots his revenge against those who betrayed him.

At the end of last week he was received at the Élysée Palace by President Emmanuel Macron, who told reporters on Monday ‘it was normal that on a human level I should receive one of my predecessors in that context’.

In a further measure of official support for the ex-president, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said he would go to visit him in prison as part of his role in ensuring Sarkozy’s safety and the proper functioning of the jail.

‘I cannot be insensitive to a man’s distress,’ he added.

The incarceration makes him the first former French leader to be jailed since Nazi collaborator Marshal Philippe Petain after World War Two. 

While Sarkozy was found guilty of conspiring with close aides to orchestrate the scheme in 2007, he was acquitted of personally receiving or using the funds.

He has consistently denied wrongdoing and called the case politically motivated, saying judges were seeking to humiliate him. 

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives by car at La Sante Prison in Paris, France, 21 October 2025

Carla Bruni Sarkozy oustide Nicolas Sarkozy’s residence ahead of his departure to La Sante Prison for incarceration on a five-year prison sentence for criminal conspiracy

Pierre Sarkozy arrives at the house of his father, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy

Son Louis Sarkozy and his wife Natali Husic leave the house of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy

Jean Sarkozy (2ndL) and Pierre Sarkozy (R), sons of France’s former president Nicolas Sarkozy, arrive at their father’s residence ahead of his departure to La Sante Prison

A supporter holds a poster with a portrait of Nicolas Sarkozy and the slogan ‘Strong France’ as people attend a gathering called by the sons of the former French President

He has appealed, but the nature of his sentence means he must go to jail as his appeal process plays out.

The former president has already been convicted in a separate corruption case, in which he was found guilty of trying to obtain confidential information from a judge in return for career favours, serving that sentence by wearing an electronic tag around the ankle.

Sarkozy’s isolation unit at La Santé prison in Paris, which in the past has housed leftist militant Carlos the Jackal and Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, features inmates are housed in single cells and kept apart during outdoor activities for security reasons.

Conditions are similar to the rest of the prison: cells measure 100 to 130 square feet and, following renovations, now include private showers.

Sarkozy will have access to a television – for a monthly fee of 14 euros – and a landline telephone.

The decision to jail a former president has sparked outrage among Sarkozy’s political allies and the far right.

Sarkozy with his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, leaves his residence to present himself to La Sante Prison for incarceration on a five-year prison sentence

Sarkozy’s isolation unit at La Santé prison in Paris, which in the past has housed leftist militant Carlos the Jackal and Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, features inmates are housed in single cells and kept apart during outdoor activities for security reasons

People gather outside former French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s home, Tuesday, October 21, 2025 in Paris

However, the ruling reflects a shift in France’s approach to white-collar crime, following reforms introduced under a previous Socialist government. 

In the 1990s and 2000s, many convicted politicians avoided prison altogether.

To counter perceptions of impunity, French judges are increasingly issuing ‘provisional execution’ orders – requiring sentences to begin immediately, even as appeals are pending – legal experts and politicians told Reuters. 

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been banned from running for office under the same ‘provisional execution’ provision, pending an appeal early next year.

According to an October 1 Elabe poll for BFM TV, 58 per cent of French respondents believe the verdict was impartial, and 61 per cent support the decision to send Sarkozy to jail without waiting for the appeal.

President Emmanuel Macron, who had warm relations with Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni, said on Monday he had met Sarkozy ahead of his incarceration. 

Justice minister Gerald Darmanin, who is close to Sarkozy, told France Inter radio he would go and visit the former president.