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As he was transported at the Parisian detention facility on Tuesday, the former French leader posted a declaration filled with resistance via social media, asserting, "It's not a former president of the nation entering prison today, but rather an innocent man." The appeals judiciary will in time decide regarding the accuracy of his claim. However, regrettably for Mr Sarkozy, the turmoil and importance of his decline cannot be ignored.

The Guilty Verdict

President of France from 2007 to 2012, the former president was judged culpable of illegal collaboration to acquire illegal financing from the regime of the former Libyan ruler, Colonel Gaddafi. Handed a half-decade incarceration, he has become the initial ex-head of an EU country to be imprisoned, and the first French leader since the dishonored head of wartime France, Marshal Pétain. Across France where the elected president possesses a near-royal standing, the recent unprecedented scene was a historic occasion.

National Faith and Judicial Responsibility

At a time when confidence in political systems in France has declined drastically to the extent where the lights are flashing red, it was also a salutary demonstration that everyone is subject to the law. In a poll issued recently, two-thirds of respondents stated that they felt a most of elected officials were corrupt, and nearly nine out of 10 said that most acted mainly out of individual benefit. When convicting the former president and mandating that his prison term should start immediately, the judge, the judicial authority, declared that she factored in both the exceptionally grave nature of the violations and the fact that they were "could damage the people's faith."

Judicial Threats

Such reflections might be considered unexceptional, notably because that Mr Sarkozy has in the past been convicted in separate corruption cases. However the legal proceedings and its consequences have disturbingly laid bare the degree to which within the nation, as in different nations, the judicial framework is jeopardized by a increasingly common disrespect toward legal institutions and the attempted manipulation of societal perspectives.

In Trumpian fashion, an thorough and detailed legal process has been falsely depicted by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a legal conspiracy and ideological revenge. Following the ruling last month, the former president effectively denounced his punishment as invalid and decried the "animosity" with "no restraints" that allegedly motivated it. As high-ranking leaders and advocates from the traditional and radical have dominated media discussions and right-leaning media with the similar rhetoric, the judicial figure has received multiple threats.

Citizen Reaction

Encouragingly, the public largely rejects this narrative. A survey after the ruling found clear majorities endorsing both the proceedings of the legal case and his punishment. But the drama, and the obvious try to damage the credibility of the judicial system, was very likely only a preliminary test. Next year, the National Rally figure's appeal against a judgment for embezzlement of political funds will occur. If the appeal fails, the far-right National Rally leader will be disqualified from competing in the upcoming election.

Long-term Effects

Across a fragmented and doubtful society, that will be a perilous moment for the country's courts to navigate. Mr Sarkozy might eventually exit before his own appeal, after an application by his legal team. However the irresponsible and baseless attacks on the court system throughout his case have set a damaging precedent.