Prison life is very hard’ — Sarkozy Seeks Early Release as Appeal Continues

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has appealed for early release from prison, telling a Paris court on Monday that his ongoing incarceration has been extremely difficult. The 70-year-old began serving a five-year sentence less than three weeks ago following his conviction for conspiring to illicitly finance his 2007 presidential campaign with funds allegedly obtained from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Sarkozy’s request for release pending appeal was supported by French prosecutors, who recommended that he be freed under strict judicial supervision to prevent any possible interference in the case. Prosecutor Damien Brunet argued that conditions such as regular reporting to authorities or electronic monitoring could effectively mitigate concerns.

Sarkozy was convicted on September 25 for criminal conspiracy, a charge Judge Nathalie Gavarino described as exceptionally serious, prompting the immediate enforcement of his sentence. Although he was acquitted of related charges, including corruption and illegal campaign financing, he became the first former French leader in modern history to be sent to prison.

Appearing via videolink, Sarkozy described his three weeks at Paris’ La Santé prison as “gruelling,” acknowledging the difficulty of incarceration while also commending prison staff for their professionalism.

“It’s hard, very hard, certainly for any prisoner. I would even say it’s gruelling,” he said. “But the prison personnel have made this nightmare more bearable.”

Under French law, detention during the appeals process is considered exceptional. Judges must determine whether Sarkozy poses a flight risk or a threat to the integrity of ongoing judicial proceedings. If granted, his release could occur within hours and may require him to wear an electronic tag, post bail, or comply with strict supervision.

This case adds to Sarkozy’s mounting legal challenges. He is currently under investigation for alleged witness tampering related to the same Libya financing case. In addition, France’s highest court is set to deliver a final ruling soon on his separate conviction for illegal campaign financing during his failed 2012 re-election bid.

A ruling on his early release request is expected later today.