Sarkozy Begins Five-Year Sentence at Paris’s La Santé Prison

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at Paris’s La Santé prison on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, to begin a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy in the Libyan financing scandal tied to his 2007 presidential campaign. This marks the first time a former French president has been incarcerated, a historic moment in the nation’s political and judicial history.

The Libyan Financing Case and Unprecedented Ruling

Last month, a Paris court sentenced Sarkozy for orchestrating a scheme involving illicit campaign funds from Muammar Gaddafi’s Libyan regime, ruling that he must begin his sentence immediately due to “the gravity of the disturbance to public order caused by the offense.” Unlike typical protocol, the court mandated that Sarkozy start his prison term before his appeal is heard. His legal team, led by attorney Christophe Ingrain, swiftly announced plans to file for release under judicial supervision. “One night in prison is one night too many,” Ingrain told BFM TV. The appeal court has up to two months to rule on the request, with a retrial scheduled for early 2026.

The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office notified Sarkozy of his detention conditions last Monday, though specifics remain undisclosed. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed he would personally visit to ensure security measures are met.

Life at La Santé: Solitary or “VIP” Confinement

Sarkozy, 70, is expected to be held in isolation for security reasons, likely in the prison’s “VIP” section—a wing with 18 identical 9-square-meter cells reserved for vulnerable inmates, separated from the general population. La Santé, opened in 1867 and recently renovated, is notorious for housing high-profile figures.

Pierre Botton, a former businessman incarcerated at La Santé from 2020 to 2022 for misappropriating charitable funds, described the experience: “It’s not Nicolas Sarkozy, president of the Republic, who arrives—it’s a man who will live like everyone else.” Botton, a decades-long acquaintance of Sarkozy, emphasized that even a former president enjoys few privileges behind bars. “No matter how powerful or wealthy you are, you decide nothing.”

A Political and Personal Fall

Sarkozy’s imprisonment caps a dramatic downfall for the charismatic conservative who led France from 2007 to 2012. The Libyan case, alleging he traded diplomatic favors for campaign funds, is one of several legal battles, including a prior conviction for illegal 2012 campaign financing. As his supporters rally and critics hail the verdict as a victory for accountability, Sarkozy’s time at La Santé—however brief pending appeal—marks a seismic moment in French history.