Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy begins prison sentence for corruption

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has entered Paris's La Santé Prison to begin a five-year sentence for illegal campaign financing, becoming the first former leader of modern France to be incarcerated.

The 69-year-old politician arrived Tuesday, October 21, 2025 morning under heavy police escort after being convicted last month of accepting Libyan funds for his 2007 presidential campaign in exchange for political favors.

The controversial figure waved to supporters before departing his residence for the southern Paris detention facility, where he will likely occupy either solitary confinement or the specialized VIP wing reserved for high-profile inmates.

Sarkozy maintained his innocence in a social media statement shortly before entering prison, declaring himself "an innocent man" and denouncing what he characterized as judicial persecution.

The historic sentencing follows Sarkozy's conviction for orchestrating a scheme that funneled millions in Libyan money into his successful presidential campaign.

The former leader faces additional ongoing legal proceedings including another corruption trial scheduled for early 2026, though he intends to appeal the current conviction while serving his sentence.

Sarkozy's imprisonment represents an unprecedented moment in French political history, with no previous Fifth Republic president having served jail time.

The former head of state expressed "deep sorrow for France" in his final pre-incarceration statement, framing his punishment as national humiliation rather than personal consequence for established criminal conduct.