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While he made his way at La Santé prison this week, the former French leader shared a message filled with defiance via social media, writing, "It's not a ex-leader of the nation facing incarceration this morning, it's an innocent man." An appellate court will eventually rule on the accuracy of his claim. However, regrettably for Mr Sarkozy, the turmoil and impact of his downfall cannot simply be wished away.

The Conviction

The French head of state during the 2007-2012 term, Mr Sarkozy was found guilty of illegal collaboration to secure illicit campaign funds from the administration of the late Libyan dictator, the Libyan strongman. Given a five-year prison term, he has emerged as the pioneering past president of an European Union nation to go behind bars, and the initial French president since the shamed head of Vichy France, Philippe Pétain. In a country where the chosen leader enjoys a almost king-like position, the recent unprecedented scene was a defining instance.

Public Trust and Legal Consequences

During a period when confidence in political systems in France has collapsed to the degree where the lights are flashing red, it was also a sobering reminder that no one is above the law. In a poll issued recently, two-thirds of respondents said that they believed a most of politicians were corrupt, and nearly nine out of 10 reported that the majority behaved predominantly out of personal gain. While judging Mr Sarkozy and directing that his prison term should start immediately, the judge, the judge, noted that she took into account both the profoundly severe aspect of the crimes and the fact that they were "potentially erode citizens' trust."

Legal Challenges

These considerations might be deemed typical, especially given that Mr Sarkozy has before been sentenced in distinct bribery proceedings. Yet the former president's case and its consequences have disturbingly laid bare the extent to which across the country, as in other countries, the judicial framework is threatened by a recently popular contempt for the judiciary and the effort to control of the popular view.

Following a populist playbook, an comprehensive and precise legal process has been falsely depicted by his backers as a judicial plot and political retaliation. Subsequent to the decision in September, the ex-leader publicly criticized his sentence as unlawful and condemned the "animosity" with "no restraints" that supposedly drove it. While prominent officials and backers from the traditional and radical have saturated public discourse and traditional outlets with the identical arguments, the judge has received various menaces.

Public Response

Hearteningly, the public seems unconvinced. Research following the judgment found clear majorities supporting both the proceedings of the courtroom process and his conviction. But the drama, and the blatant effort to weaken the standing of the legal system, was most probably just a trial run. During winter, the National Rally figure's court petition against a judgment for embezzlement of political funds will occur. If unsuccessful, the political candidate will be excluded from participating in the upcoming election.

Long-term Effects

Within a divided and skeptical country, that will be a risky period for the country's courts to navigate. The former president may yet be released before his own appeal, after an application by his lawyers. Yet the reckless and unfounded criticisms on the judicial framework at all stages of his case have established a harmful example.