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While he made his way at La Santé prison this week, Nicolas Sarkozy posted a declaration filled with defiance via social media, writing, "It's not a ex-leader of the nation who is being jailed today, but rather an wrongfully accused individual." The appeals judiciary will in time rule on the truthfulness of his claim. But unfortunately for the ex-president, the spectacle and significance of his downfall cannot be ignored.

The Legal Judgment

The French head of state between 2007 and 2012, Mr Sarkozy was convicted of illegal collaboration to obtain illicit campaign funds from the administration of the deceased Libyan leader, the Libyan strongman. Sentenced to a five-year sentence, he has become the first former leader of an EU country to go behind bars, and the first French leader since the disgraced head of the Vichy regime, Philippe Pétain. Across France where the chosen leader possesses a near-royal standing, this week's remarkable event was a defining instance.

Citizen Confidence and Judicial Responsibility

In an era when confidence in political systems in France has plummeted to the extent where warning signs are evident, it was also a sobering reminder that the law applies to all. According to a survey released this week, a majority of participants indicated that they thought a large number of politicians were dishonest, and the vast majority reported that most behaved predominantly out of individual benefit. While judging the former president and directing that his sentence should begin without delay, the judge, the judge, said that she took into account both the extremely serious character of the violations and the fact that they were "likely to undermine citizens' trust."

Legal Challenges

Those thoughts might be seen as ordinary, particularly since that Mr Sarkozy has before been convicted in separate corruption cases. But the Sarkozy trial and its aftermath have troublingly exposed the extent to which in France, as in different nations, the rule of law is jeopardized by a increasingly common disdain for courts and the attempted manipulation of the popular view.

Using divisive tactics, an thorough and detailed legal process has been baselessly portrayed by the former president's allies as a legal conspiracy and ideological revenge. After the verdict recently, the former president effectively denounced his sentence as invalid and condemned the "animosity" with "no boundaries" that reportedly inspired it. Since senior politicians and advocates from the right and far right have dominated media discussions and traditional outlets with the identical arguments, Ms Gavarino has been subjected to numerous death threats.

Societal Feedback

Reassuringly, the citizens largely rejects this narrative. Research following the judgment found significant majorities backing both the handling of the legal case and his conviction. But the turmoil, and the blatant effort to undermine the reputation of the judicial system, was most probably merely a dress rehearsal. Next year, the National Rally figure's legal challenge against a guilty verdict for embezzlement of political funds will take place. Should she lose it, the conservative figure will be excluded from participating in the future campaign.

Long-term Effects

Across a fragmented and doubtful society, that will be a risky period for the national legal system to manage. Mr Sarkozy could still be freed ahead of his next legal challenge, following a request by his lawyers. Yet the irresponsible and baseless attacks on the court system before, during and after his trial have created a negative standard.