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As he was transported at La Santé prison on Tuesday, the former French leader shared a statement overflowing with defiance on X, stating, "This isn't a former president of the nation entering prison today, but rather an innocent man." The appeals judiciary will in time decide regarding the accuracy of this assertion. But unfortunately for the ex-president, the drama and importance of his downfall cannot be ignored.

The Legal Judgment

The French head of state between 2007 and 2012, Mr Sarkozy was found guilty of illegal collaboration to obtain illegal financing from the administration of the former Libyan ruler, Muammar Gaddafi. Handed a half-decade incarceration, he has become the first former leader of an European Union nation to be imprisoned, and the earliest French head of state since the shamed head of the Vichy regime, Philippe Pétain. Across France where the democratically selected head of state enjoys a almost king-like position, the recent extraordinary spectacle was a defining instance.

National Faith and Judicial Responsibility

In an era when trust in government bodies in France has plummeted to the extent where alarms are sounding, it was also a sobering reminder that no one is above the law. According to a survey released recently, over 65% of those surveyed said that they believed a majority of elected officials were dishonest, and the vast majority reported that most acted mainly out of self-interest. When convicting Mr Sarkozy and ordering that his sentence should start immediately, the judge, Nathalie Gavarino, said that she took into account both the extremely serious character of the violations and the fact that they were "could damage the people's faith."

Legal Challenges

Those thoughts might be deemed typical, especially given that Mr Sarkozy has previously been sentenced in other graft trials. Yet the legal proceedings and its aftermath have alarmingly revealed the scope to which across the country, as in other countries, the judicial framework is threatened by a newly fashionable contempt for the judiciary and the attempted manipulation of societal perspectives.

Following a populist playbook, an exhaustive and meticulous legal process has been baselessly portrayed by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a courtroom scheme and political retaliation. After the verdict recently, the former president openly condemned his punishment as unlawful and censured the "hatred" with "no limits" that allegedly motivated it. While senior politicians and backers from the right and far right have dominated media discussions and right-leaning media with the similar rhetoric, the judicial figure has received multiple threats.

Societal Feedback

Hearteningly, the population largely rejects this narrative. A survey after the ruling found clear majorities backing both the proceedings of Mr Sarkozy's trial and his conviction. But the turmoil, and the obvious try to damage the credibility of the judicial system, was most probably merely a dress rehearsal. In January, Marine Le Pen's appeal against a conviction for misuse of campaign money will take place. If the appeal fails, the political candidate will be excluded from competing in the 2027 presidential race.

Long-term Effects

Within a divided and skeptical country, that will be a risky period for the French judiciary to manage. Mr Sarkozy may yet be released prior to his appeal hearing, following a request by his lawyers. However the unfounded and damaging assaults on the court system at all stages of his proceedings have established a harmful example.