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While he arrived at La Santé prison this week, the former French leader shared a statement filled with opposition via social media, stating, "This isn't a ex-leader of the nation entering prison this morning, it's an innocent man." A court of appeal will in time give its view the truthfulness of that statement. Yet sadly for the ex-president, the spectacle and impact of his decline cannot simply be wished away.

The Legal Judgment

President of France from 2007 to 2012, Mr Sarkozy was judged culpable of illegal collaboration to secure illegal financing from the administration of the deceased Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Given a five-year sentence, he has been recorded as the first former leader of an EU member state to be imprisoned, and the earliest French head of state since the shamed head of the Vichy regime, the Vichy leader. In a country where the democratically selected head of state possesses a almost king-like position, Tuesday's extraordinary spectacle was a defining instance.

Public Trust and Legal Accountability

At a time when trust in government bodies in France has declined drastically to the point where warning signs are evident, it was also a sobering reminder that no one is above the law. According to a survey released this week, two-thirds of respondents indicated that they thought a large number of politicians were unethical, and nearly nine out of 10 reported that most behaved predominantly out of personal gain. In sentencing the former president and ordering that his sentence should begin without delay, the presiding magistrate, the judge, declared that she considered both the profoundly severe aspect of the violations and the fact that they were "could damage citizens' trust."

Legal Challenges

These considerations might be deemed typical, particularly since that Mr Sarkozy has in the past been convicted in separate corruption cases. Yet the legal proceedings and its consequences have alarmingly revealed the degree to which in France, as in other countries, the judicial framework is jeopardized by a recently popular contempt for the judiciary and the try to influence of public opinion.

Following a populist playbook, an thorough and detailed court case has been groundlessly presented by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a judicial plot and ideological revenge. Following the ruling in September, the former president publicly criticized his sentence as unlawful and censured the "hatred" with "no limits" that reportedly inspired it. While senior politicians and supporters from the conservative and extremist have filled the airwaves and right-leaning media with the same talking points, the judicial figure has been subjected to numerous death threats.

Citizen Reaction

Reassuringly, the citizens largely rejects this narrative. A post-verdict poll found significant majorities endorsing both the handling of the courtroom process and his punishment. Yet the drama, and the naked attempt to undermine the reputation of the judicial system, was most probably merely a dress rehearsal. In January, the National Rally figure's legal challenge against a conviction for embezzlement of political funds will be heard. If the appeal fails, the far-right National Rally leader will be excluded from running in the future campaign.

Long-term Effects

In a polarised and mistrustful nation, that will be a perilous moment for the country's courts to navigate. The former president could still be freed before his own appeal, following a request by his attorneys. Yet the irresponsible and baseless attacks on the court system throughout his trial have created a negative standard.