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While he was transported at La Santé prison on Tuesday, the former French leader published a message filled with defiance via social media, asserting, "This isn't a ex-leader of the nation entering prison this morning, it's an wrongfully accused individual." An appellate court is set to decide regarding the veracity of that statement. Yet sadly for Mr Sarkozy, the drama and impact of his fall cannot simply be wished away.

The Guilty Verdict

France's leader between 2007 and 2012, Mr Sarkozy was convicted of illegal collaboration to secure illegal financing from the regime of the deceased Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Given a five-year sentence, he has been recorded as the initial ex-head of an European Union nation to go behind bars, and the earliest French head of state since the disgraced head of Vichy France, Philippe Pétain. In a country where the elected president enjoys a near-royal standing, Tuesday's remarkable event was a historic occasion.

Citizen Confidence and Judicial Responsibility

In an era when faith in political institutions in France has collapsed to the extent where alarms are sounding, it was also a instructive example that no one is above the law. According to a survey issued recently, over 65% of those surveyed said that they felt a majority of government figures were unethical, and almost 90% claimed that most behaved predominantly out of individual benefit. In sentencing Mr Sarkozy and directing that his incarceration should commence promptly, the judge, the judge, declared that she factored in both the profoundly severe aspect of the crimes and the fact that they were "likely to undermine the people's faith."

Judicial Threats

Those thoughts might be considered unexceptional, especially given that the ex-president has before been convicted in other graft trials. However the Sarkozy trial and its consequences have disturbingly laid bare the degree to which across the country, as in various states, the legal system is threatened by a newly fashionable contempt for the judiciary and the effort to control of the popular view.

Following a populist playbook, an thorough and detailed legal process has been falsely depicted by his backers as a legal conspiracy and political retaliation. After the verdict last month, the former president publicly criticized his judgment as unlawful and censured the "hostility" with "no limits" that supposedly drove it. While senior politicians and advocates from the right and far right have dominated media discussions and conservative press with the same talking points, the judicial figure has obtained various menaces.

Public Response

Reassuringly, the citizens seems unconvinced. Research following the judgment found significant majorities supporting both the conduct of the courtroom process and his sentencing. However the spectacle, and the obvious try to weaken the standing of the court system, was most probably only a preliminary test. In January, the far-right leader's appeal against a judgment for diversion of electoral finances will take place. If the appeal fails, the far-right National Rally leader will be ruled out from competing in the 2027 presidential race.

Coming Consequences

Within a divided and skeptical country, that will be a perilous moment for the French judiciary to navigate. Mr Sarkozy might eventually exit before his own appeal, after an application by his lawyers. But the reckless and unfounded criticisms on the judicial framework throughout his proceedings have set a damaging precedent.