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As he made his way at the Parisian detention facility this week, Nicolas Sarkozy published a declaration brimming with opposition via social media, writing, "This isn't a ex-leader of the republic facing incarceration today, it's an innocent man." A court of appeal will eventually decide regarding the truthfulness of that statement. But unfortunately for the ex-president, the drama and significance of his fall cannot be dismissed.

The Guilty Verdict

France's leader during the 2007-2012 term, Mr Sarkozy was convicted of unlawful plotting to obtain prohibited donations from the government of the deceased Libyan leader, the Libyan strongman. Given a half-decade incarceration, he has become the initial ex-head of an European Union nation to enter prison, and the first French leader since the shamed head of Vichy France, the Vichy leader. In a country where the elected president enjoys a quasi-monarchical status, this week's unprecedented scene was a defining instance.

Citizen Confidence and Legal Consequences

In an era when confidence in political systems in France has plummeted to the point where warning signs are evident, it was also a salutary demonstration that everyone is subject to the law. As per a study issued recently, a majority of participants said that they believed a most of elected officials were unethical, and almost 90% claimed that the majority operated primarily out of personal gain. In sentencing Mr Sarkozy and ordering that his incarceration should begin without delay, the presiding magistrate, Nathalie Gavarino, said that she took into account both the extremely serious character of the crimes and the fact that they were "likely to undermine citizens' trust."

Legal Challenges

These considerations might be seen as ordinary, particularly since that the ex-president has before been convicted in other graft trials. However the legal proceedings and its fallout have alarmingly revealed the scope to which across the country, as in various states, the legal system is endangered by a newly fashionable contempt for the judiciary and the attempted manipulation of the popular view.

In Trumpian fashion, an exhaustive and meticulous legal process has been groundlessly presented by the former president's allies as a courtroom scheme and leftwing vendetta. After the verdict in September, the former president publicly criticized his judgment as illegal and condemned the "hatred" with "no restraints" that reportedly inspired it. As high-ranking leaders and advocates from the traditional and radical have saturated public discourse and traditional outlets with the identical arguments, the judge has obtained various menaces.

Citizen Reaction

Encouragingly, the population seems unconvinced. Research following the judgment found clear majorities supporting both the handling of the courtroom process and his sentencing. However the drama, and the blatant effort to undermine the reputation of the court system, was very likely just a trial run. During winter, the National Rally figure's appeal against a conviction for misuse of campaign money will take place. Should she lose it, the conservative figure will be excluded from running in the upcoming election.

Coming Consequences

Across a fragmented and doubtful society, that will be a dangerous time for the French judiciary to manage. The former president could still be freed prior to his appeal hearing, following a request by his lawyers. But the irresponsible and baseless attacks on the judicial framework at all stages of his case have established a harmful example.