Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began serving a five-year sentence at La Santé prison in Paris on Tuesday, following his conviction for conspiring to illegally fund his 2007 presidential campaign with Libyan money.
The high-profile case marks a dramatic fall for the leader who governed France from 2007 to 2012.
Sarkozy, who denies wrongdoing and calls the case politically motivated, is housed in the prison’s isolation unit to minimize contact with other inmates.
His lawyers have requested early release, with a review expected within a month, potentially allowing freedom by Christmas.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that two police officers, part of Sarkozy’s existing security detail for former presidents, will be stationed in nearby cells to ensure his safety.
“The former president of the republic is entitled to protection because of his status,” Nunez told Europe 1 radio, citing threats against Sarkozy.
The officers will maintain a constant presence on rotating shifts throughout his incarceration, a measure Nunez deemed necessary.
Sarkozy’s lawyer, Jean-Michel Darrois, emphasized that his client received no special treatment, describing his 97-square-foot cell where “prisoners make noise, they shout, they bang on the walls.”
“In principle, given the positions he has held, he should have a different status. He didn’t ask for it, so he doesn’t have it,” he added.
The deployment of police inside La Santé has drawn criticism from prison guard unions.
Nicolas Peyrin of the CGT union argued that the prison staff are fully capable of ensuring inmate safety, calling the police presence unnecessary.
Hugo Vitry, a guard at La Santé and Force Ouvrière union leader, noted that staff were not informed about the security detail and have demanded explanations from the prison administration and Ministry of Justice.
Despite the controversy, Sarkozy’s legal team remains focused on his appeal, while his brother, Guillaume Sarkozy, expressed pride in his resilience, stating, “I am totally convinced of his innocence.”