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As he made his way at the Parisian detention facility on Tuesday, Nicolas Sarkozy posted a statement filled with resistance via social media, stating, "It's not a former president of the republic who is being jailed today, but rather an innocent man." The appeals judiciary will eventually rule on the veracity of his claim. However, regrettably for Mr Sarkozy, the turmoil and importance of his decline cannot simply be wished away.

The Legal Judgment

President of France between 2007 and 2012, the former president was judged culpable of illegal collaboration to secure illicit campaign funds from the administration of the late Libyan dictator, the Libyan strongman. Handed a five-year prison term, he has been recorded as the pioneering past president of an EU country to be imprisoned, and the earliest French head of state since the dishonored head of Vichy France, Philippe Pétain. Across France where the democratically selected head of state holds a near-royal standing, the recent remarkable event was a defining instance.

National Faith and Legal Accountability

During a period when faith in political institutions in France has collapsed to the extent where warning signs are evident, it was also a instructive example that everyone is subject to the law. In a poll released recently, a majority of participants indicated that they believed a large number of politicians were unethical, and nearly nine out of 10 said that many behaved predominantly out of self-interest. When convicting the former president and mandating that his prison term should begin without delay, the presiding magistrate, Nathalie Gavarino, declared that she considered both the extremely serious character of the violations and the fact that they were "potentially erode public confidence."

Judicial Threats

Those thoughts might be considered unexceptional, notably because that the ex-president has before been found guilty in separate corruption cases. Yet the Sarkozy trial and its fallout have disturbingly laid bare the scope to which across the country, as in various states, the legal system is threatened by a recently popular disrespect toward legal institutions and the try to influence of the popular view.

Following a populist playbook, an exhaustive and meticulous legal process has been falsely depicted by his backers as a courtroom scheme and leftwing vendetta. Following the ruling recently, the ex-leader effectively denounced his sentence as unlawful and condemned the "hatred" with "no limits" that supposedly drove it. As high-ranking leaders and supporters from the traditional and radical have dominated media discussions and conservative press with the identical arguments, the judicial figure has obtained multiple threats.

Societal Feedback

Hearteningly, the population does not appear to be buying it. A survey after the ruling found clear majorities supporting both the proceedings of the courtroom process and his punishment. However the spectacle, and the blatant effort to undermine the reputation of the legal system, was very likely merely a dress rehearsal. In January, the National Rally figure's court petition against a conviction for diversion of electoral finances will occur. If the appeal fails, the conservative figure will be ruled out from competing in the future campaign.

Long-term Effects

In a polarised and mistrustful nation, that will be a risky period for the French judiciary to manage. The former president might eventually exit before his own appeal, following a request by his lawyers. Yet the reckless and unfounded criticisms on the legal system at all stages of his proceedings have established a harmful example.