Nicolas Sarkozy opens up about his prison time: 20 days in a 9 square meter cell | policy

Paris (France) – He only spent 20 days in the notorious “La Santé” prison in Paris – but that was enough for him to write a whole book: former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will publish “Le journal d’un jailnier” (in German: “Diary of a prisoner”) on December 10. He announced this on Platform

In late September, a Paris court found Sarkozy guilty of involvement in a criminal organization in a trial over alleged campaign funding from Libya. The penalty: five years in prison. On October 21, Sarkozy went to “La Santé” amidst a media frenzy – and comes out again on November 10. At least for now. The former president appeals; the process begins in March 2026.

This is what Nicolas Sarkozy wrote in his new book

“In prison there is nothing to see and do. I forget the silence, which does not exist in La Santé (…). Unfortunately, noise is everywhere there,” he describes life in prison in a short excerpt from the book. And he is aggressive: “As in the desert, the inner life is strengthened in prison.”

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Here’s what ex-convicts have to say about Sarkozy

Goodbye luxury: The former head of state lives in a high-security cell in a small nine-square-meter cell with a single bed, a table with chairs, a closed window, a shower, a toilet and an electric stove.

An insider told French magazine Le Point about Sarkozy: “He doesn’t even know how to boil an egg. And refuses to do so in principle.” However, he is said to have used a broom to clean his cell.

Nicolas Sarkozy said after his release that he had been a model prisoner. “I diligently complied with all subpoenas.” He added: “This torture happened to me – I endured it.”

He currently has to wear an ankle bracelet

The 70-year-old initially had to wear an electronic ankle bracelet and report to police as he lives in the multi-million dollar property with his wife Carla Bruni (57) and their daughter Giulia (14).

If the summons failed, he would be able to add even more chapters to his book.