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Nicolas Sarkozy plans a personal account this autumn titled Diary of a Prisoner, chronicling the period spent behind bars.

The revelation came just 11 days after the ex-leader was released as he contests his conviction for unlawful coordination connected to efforts to secure political financing linked to the government of the late Libyan dictator.

Life Behind Bars: Solitary Musings

“Inside jail one sees little, with little to occupy time,” he reflects in one passage, indicating the account will focus on his reflections from seclusion as opposed to a broader observation on the overcrowded and troubled French prison system.

“I forget silence, not present in that facility, where noise is endless commotion,” he states. “The noise unfortunately never stops. Yet, similar to barren lands, one’s inner world grows stronger in prison.”

Court Appearance: Describing the Ordeal

At his release request hearing, Sarkozy was present by video link from his cell, describing his time inside as gruelling. He stated to the judge: “I want to pay tribute to all the prison staff, showing great humanity, and who helped make this difficult experience tolerable – because it is a nightmare.”

“I never imagined that in my seventies, I’d be in prison. It’s an ordeal I must endure. I admit it’s difficult, extremely tough. It has an impact every inmate as it’s exhausting.”

Unprecedented Situation

Sarkozy, who led the nation between 2007 and 2012, was the first ex-leader from the EU and the first leader since WWII from France to serve time in prison.

Ahead of his incarceration he had said he would use his time for authoring a memoir.

Reading Material

Unconfirmed is if he found the opportunity to read and critique the volumes he brought with him: a two-volume biography of Jesus and Alexandre Dumas’s novel The Count of Monte Cristo, where a blameless person is imprisoned but escapes to seek vengeance.

Life in Confinement

He was held in isolation for his own security in a cell approximately nine square meters featuring a personal bathroom at the correctional facility in the city. Security personnel stayed in a neighbouring cell.

Reports indicated that he had eaten only yoghurts during his stay due to concerns prison cuisine could have been tampered with. Although he had access to prepare his own meals yet he declined, as per accounts. Not known is if he will detail meals during incarceration.

Legal Perspective

His attorney, who visited his client daily during the incarceration, told the release hearing security would be better outside jail than inside. “He received threats against his life, has heard screaming during nighttime plus rapid actions in an adjacent room as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Case Background

His incarceration began on 21 October when a Paris court imposed five years in prison for criminal conspiracy over a scheme to secure election financing for his presidential bid.

He denies wrongdoing and is contesting the ruling, and another court case is scheduled for next spring.