On October 21st, local time, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was officially imprisoned, opening his five-year sentence, becoming the first former president imprisoned in modern French history. The "Libya case" caused by the illegal campaign funding case made this strongman who once dominated the political arena fall to the bottom.
Before being imprisoned, Sarkozy had secretly met with current French President Macron at the Elysee Palace. Some critics said that Macron's interview appeared to be "more important than others." Sarkozy himself also made a high-profile declaration of innocence before going to prison, and even compared himself to Dreyfus, the protagonist of a wrongful case in the 19th century.
The Lausanne Prison in Paris, where Sarkozy was imprisoned, was exactly where Dreyfus was imprisoned at the time. As the last prison in the city district of Paris, the Lausanne Prison, with its 158 years of history, not only witnessed the modern history of French justice, but its old facilities and poor sanitary conditions have also attracted criticism from outside.
The prison doctor once wrote a memoir:
Rats and skin diseases.
According to CCTV News, Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in prison by the Paris Criminal Court on September 25 this year on suspicion of illegally accepting campaign funding provided by former Libya leader Gaddafi. Presiding judge Natalie Gavarino said at the time that the case was extremely serious and undermined citizens 'trust, so the five-year sentence was reasonable.
According to data from the French Ministry of Justice, 89% of defendants in similar severe sentences need to serve their sentences immediately. Sarkozy's lawyers have appealed and applied for house arrest, which the court will hear within two months. If the appeal fails, he may have to serve a five-year sentence, part of which can be converted to electronic leg shackles at home under house arrest.
Sarkozy was the first former president in modern French history to be imprisoned, and one of the last heads of state in France to be imprisoned dates back to Marchionne Beaumont during the Second World War. Sarkozy’s imprisonment is located in the centre of Paris, an ancient prison that began in 1867, and is currently the only prison still operating in the Paris city district, often holding important prisoners. The famous 19th-century French criminal character Deforese was imprisoned here before being expelled to the Devil’s Island of French Guyana, while Sarkozy also called himself the “New Deforest” before entering prison.
Although LaSante itself means “healthy” in French, the sanitary conditions of LaSante prison are troublesome, the prison walls are often ripped, molded and even watered because of the old age, its ventilation, lighting design is also a big problem. There are French netizens joking that “on the walls of this prison, you can hear the sound of history, and in the evening you can hear a lot of strange harmful noise.”
In 2000, Veronique Vasseur, a prison doctor, published Memoirs of Dr. Lasant, which exposed the breeding of rats, the rampant skin diseases and the high suicide rate in the prison. Many French social activity organizations and the European Committee against Torture have repeatedly criticized the detention conditions here as "inhumane".
However, Sarkozy will be detained in the VIP area (or "vulnerable area"), with a single cell of about 9 square meters, equipped with basic facilities such as beds, tables, chairs, sinks and toilets, and no contact with ordinary prisoners. The VIP area has undergone renovation since 2014, and the conditions have been improved. Compared with the ordinary prisoner area (2-4 people share a 3-5 square meter cell), the treatment in the VIP area is already very superior. In addition, the VIP area can also pay to get some extra benefits, such as buying snacks, renting TV, etc., but TV can only watch a limited number of public channels.
Mysterious meeting before imprisonment:
Macron's interview causes controversy
French media that President Macron met him secretly at the Elysée Palace on October 17 before Sarkozy was imprisoned. The incident was uncovered on October 20 andly lasted about 40 to 60 minutes. Macron said during a summit of leaders of the Nine Nations in Slovenia that the meeting was a "humanitarian move" and did not involve judicial intervention. However, French Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure strongly criticized the move, saying it suggested that "some defendants will be equal", which may violate the principles of judicial independence in the French Constitution.
Sarkozy said he “did not require any special treatment” while serving in prison. Sarkozyly carried family photos and three books (including The Count of Mount Christ) to Lee, which was the first week he was allowed to carry. Furthermore, he was advised to bring an earpiece. The meal in the prison included bread, soups and some cheap meats, Sarkozy had an hour of winding time a day, the family could visit one to two times a week, and the duration of each visit was about 30 to 45 minutes.
Sarkozy's imprisonment caused waves in French politics. Supporters gathered outside his Paris mansion, and his son, Louis Sarkozy, called for street protests. Earlier, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from election for five years for embezzling public funds, which aggravated the dissatisfaction of right-wing voters. Now Sarkozy, once known for his tough diplomacy, has also been imprisoned. According to the analysis, Sarkozy case may further tear French society apart.
Red Star journalist Zheng Zhi Comprehensive World Wide Web