🔗 Share this article The Former French President Set to Write Jail Diary Chronicling Two Dozen Days In Custody The ex-president of France will soon publish a personal account next month called A Prisoner’s Diary, chronicling his experience spent in jail. The announcement emerged less than two weeks after Sarkozy left prison as he appeals his conviction on charges of unlawful coordination connected to efforts to secure political financing from the leadership of former Libyan leader. Prison Experience: Solitary Musings “Inside jail visibility is limited, and activities are scarce,” he notes in an extract, implying the memoir centers around his reflections during seclusion instead of wider commentary regarding the overcrowded and crisis-hit French prison system. “Silence escapes me, not present in La Santé, where one hears a lot to hear,” he continues. “The din is alas constant. But, just like the desert, inner life grows stronger behind bars.” Freedom Plea: Describing the Ordeal At his release request hearing, the former leader had appeared by video link from inside the facility, characterizing his incarceration as gruelling. He had told the court: “I must acknowledge those working in the jail, displaying remarkable compassion, and who helped make this nightmare manageable – since it’s deeply troubling.” “I didn’t expect that at 70 years of age, I would end up incarcerated. It’s a hardship forced upon me. I confess it’s hard, extremely tough. It leaves a mark every inmate due to its intensity.” First of Its Kind He, the ex-head of state from 2007 to 2012, became the inaugural ex-leader from the EU and the first leader since WWII in the French Republic to experience jail. Prior to imprisonment he had said he would use his time to compose an account. Reading Material It remains unclear whether he had time to go through the volumes he had in his cell: a two-volume biography of Jesus together with Dumas’s work the classic tale, in which an innocent man is imprisoned then breaks out to exact retribution. Life in Confinement He remained in isolation for his own security in a space approximately nine square meters including private facilities at the correctional facility in the city. Guards stayed in a neighbouring cell. It was stated that he had eaten just yogurt while inside due to concerns any food may have been contaminated. Options were available to prepare his own meals but he turned this down, according to reports. Unclear remains if the memoir includes meals during incarceration. Legal Perspective Sarkozy’s lawyer, Christophe Ingrain each day throughout the jail term, informed the court his safety would improve out of prison compared to inside. “There were death threats, heard shouts at night and emergency responses next door as a detainee harmed themselves.” Legal Proceedings Sarkozy went to prison last month following a French court gave him a half-decade term for criminal conspiracy related to a plan to secure election financing during his election campaign. He maintains his innocence and has appealed against the verdict, and a fresh trial planned for next spring.