Sarkozy behind bars

Sarkozy, the former president of France, is the first leader in modern French history to be imprisoned. His journey from the Élysée Palace to the notorious La Santé Prison in Paris has shocked the nation.

One of Sarkozy’s sons, Louis, called for a gathering Tuesday morning in support of his father in the upscale Paris neighborhood where Sarkozy lives with his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently hosted the conservative Sarkozy at the presidential palace, said on Monday: “I have always been very clear in my public statements about the independence of the judiciary in my role, but on a human level, it was natural to welcome one of my predecessors in this context.”

Sarkozy told Le Figaro newspaper that he expects to be held in solitary confinement, kept apart from other inmates for security reasons. There is also a possibility that he will be placed in the prison’s “vulnerable inmates” section, commonly known as the special unit.

Earlier, Sarkozy told La Tribune Dimanche: “I am not afraid of prison. I will hold my head high — even at the gates of La Santé. I will fight to the end.”

La Tribune Dimanche reported that Sarkozy has prepared his prison bag with clothes and ten family photographs — the maximum allowed.

He also told Le Figaro that he will bring three books — the maximum permitted — including The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, whose hero escapes from an island prison before taking his revenge.

A Paris judge ruled that due to the sensitivity of the case, Sarkozy must begin serving his sentence immediately, without waiting for his appeal to be heard. According to the ruling, the 70-year-old Sarkozy can only file his request for release with the appeals court once behind bars, and the judges will then have up to two months to review his application.