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As he arrived at La Santé prison on Tuesday, Nicolas Sarkozy shared a statement brimming with defiance via social media, asserting, "This isn't a ex-leader of the nation who is being jailed today, it's an innocent man." An appellate court will eventually give its view the accuracy of that statement. However, regrettably for Mr Sarkozy, the spectacle and impact of his decline cannot be ignored.

The Legal Judgment

France's leader from 2007 to 2012, Mr Sarkozy was found guilty of criminal conspiracy to obtain illegal financing from the government of the late Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. Given a five-year sentence, he has emerged as the first former leader of an EU country to go behind bars, and the earliest French head of state since the shamed head of the Vichy regime, Philippe Pétain. In a country where the elected president possesses a quasi-monarchical status, the recent remarkable event was a defining instance.

National Faith and Judicial Responsibility

In an era when faith in political institutions in France has declined drastically to the degree where warning signs are evident, it was also a instructive example that no one is above the law. As per a study released recently, a majority of participants said that they thought a most of elected officials were dishonest, and the vast majority reported that the majority operated primarily out of individual benefit. When convicting the former president and mandating that his incarceration should start immediately, the court official, the judicial authority, said that she took into account both the profoundly severe aspect of the violations and the fact that they were "potentially erode public confidence."

Judicial Threats

These considerations might be seen as ordinary, especially given that the ex-president has in the past been convicted in distinct bribery proceedings. But the legal proceedings and its consequences have alarmingly revealed the scope to which across the country, as in other countries, the rule of law is endangered by a increasingly common disdain for courts and the try to influence of the popular view.

Using divisive tactics, an exhaustive and meticulous legal process has been groundlessly presented by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a legal conspiracy and ideological revenge. Subsequent to the decision in September, the former president publicly criticized his judgment as unlawful and condemned the "hostility" with "no restraints" that reportedly inspired it. While prominent officials and supporters from the right and far right have filled the airwaves and right-leaning media with the similar rhetoric, the judicial figure has been subjected to various menaces.

Citizen Reaction

Reassuringly, the citizens seems unconvinced. A survey after the ruling found clear majorities supporting both the conduct of Mr Sarkozy's trial and his punishment. But the drama, and the blatant effort to undermine the reputation of the judicial system, was most probably merely a dress rehearsal. During winter, Marine Le Pen's court petition against a guilty verdict for misuse of campaign money will be heard. If unsuccessful, the far-right National Rally leader will be disqualified from competing in the future campaign.

Future Implications

In a polarised and mistrustful nation, that will be a risky period for the national legal system to handle. Mr Sarkozy might eventually exit prior to his appeal hearing, after an application by his lawyers. Yet the irresponsible and baseless attacks on the legal system at all stages of his trial have created a negative standard.