Sarkozy’s 20-day sentence, laid bare in new memoir

• From the Élysée to La Santé: Sarkozy recounts his 20-day prison ordeal.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to release a memoir detailing his recent 20-day stay in prison, following his conviction for criminal conspiracy related to illegal campaign financing.

The 216-page book, titled "Diary of a Prisoner" ("Le journal d'un prisonnier" in French), is scheduled to be available on December 10, 2025.

The Conviction and Incarceration

Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, was convicted in September 2025 on charges of criminal conspiracy over a scheme to illegally finance his 2007 presidential campaign with funds allegedly from the regime of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

He was sentenced to five years in prison, and became the first former French president in modern history to serve time behind bars.

He began his sentence at La Santé prison in Paris on October 21, 2025, but was released under judicial supervision on November 10, 2025, pending an appeal after serving 20 days. Sarkozy has consistently maintained his innocence, calling the verdict a "judicial scandal" and claiming he is the victim of a politically motivated campaign. His appeal trial is set to begin in March 2026.

Inside the Memoir

The book, published by Fayard, reportedly dedicates approximately 11 pages to each day of his imprisonment, offering a rare and personal look at the realities of incarceration. In released excerpts, Sarkozy describes the grim environment of La Santé prison:

• Conditions: He writes of the pervasive "greyness and solitude" and the "constant noise," noting that "there is nothing to see or do in prison."
• Isolation and Diet: For security reasons, Sarkozy was housed separately from other inmates in a protective wing and remained confined to his cell for 23 hours a day. He recounts that he ate only pre-packaged foods like yogurt, cereal bars, and mineral water, fearing food contamination.
• Reflection: Despite the harsh external environment, he notes that his "inner life was strengthened" during his time there, and he used his time to reflect and write. In one passage, he describes kneeling in prayer on his first night, seeking "the strength to bear the cross of this injustice."

Sarkozy, who remains an influential figure in French conservative politics, is reportedly aiming to continue denouncing the legal proceedings against him through his memoir.