🔗 Share this article The Former French President to Pen Prison Memoir Detailing Two Dozen Days Incarcerated The ex-president of France is preparing a book next month titled A Prisoner’s Diary, chronicling the period served in jail. The announcement emerged just 11 days following the former president was released as his appeal proceeds the guilty verdict for unlawful coordination connected to efforts to acquire political financing provided by the regime of former Libyan leader. Time in Custody: Personal Reflections “Behind bars visibility is limited, with little to occupy time,” he notes in a preview, suggesting the account will focus on his musings from solitary confinement rather than a broader observation regarding the overcrowded and troubled jail system in France. “Silence escapes me, which is missing in that facility, where there is a lot to hear,” he states. “The noise persists relentlessly. Yet, similar to barren lands, inner life is strengthened in prison.” Court Appearance: Describing the Ordeal At his release request hearing, he had appeared by video link from inside the facility, depicting prison life as draining. He stated to the judge: “I wish to commend to all the prison staff, showing great humanity, easing this difficult experience bearable – since it’s deeply troubling.” “It never crossed my mind that at 70 years of age, I would end up incarcerated. It’s a trial that has been imposed on me. I confess it’s hard, deeply straining. It has an impact all who experience it as it’s exhausting.” Unprecedented Situation He, the ex-head of state for a five-year term, set a precedent as ex-leader of an EU country and the first leader since WWII in the French Republic to serve time in prison. Prior to imprisonment he had said he planned to utilize the opportunity for authoring a memoir. Books in Prison Unconfirmed is did he manage to read and critique the texts he took into prison: a two-volume biography of Jesus plus the novel by Dumas the classic tale, where a blameless person is sentenced to jail but escapes to seek vengeance. Prison Conditions The former leader remained in isolation to protect him in a cell roughly 100 square feet including private facilities in the Paris jail located in the capital. Security personnel stayed in an adjacent room. Sources mentioned his diet consisted only yoghurts while inside due to concerns meals provided could have been tampered with. Although he had access to cook for himself but refused this, according to reports. Not known is if the memoir includes what he ate in prison. Lawyer’s Statements Sarkozy’s lawyer, who visited his client daily throughout the jail term, stated during proceedings security would be better released compared to inside. “He received threats against his life, heard shouts at night plus rapid actions in a neighbouring cell during an inmate’s self-injury.” Legal Proceedings He entered custody on 21 October following a Paris court sentenced him to a five-year sentence on conspiracy charges related to a plan to acquire election financing for his 2007 presidential race. He maintains his innocence and has appealed against the verdict, with a new trial planned for the coming spring.