Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president of France, has published a 216-page memoir, Le journal d’un prisonnier (The Diary of a Prisoner), detailing his three-week incarceration in La Santé prison following his October 2025 conviction for corruption. The book, released by Fayard and already a bestseller in France, offers a first-person account of his time in solitary confinement, portraying himself as a wronged and spiritually enlightened figure.
Sarkozy, 70, began serving his five-year sentence in La Santé on October 21 before being released into judicial custody pending an appeal due to begin in March 2026. In his memoir, he compares his plight to that of Alfred Dreyfus, the early 20th-century French officer wrongfully convicted, arguing that he was persecuted for political reasons and falsely accused in the Libyan funding case.
The former leader describes his prison conditions in detail, noting that he received special treatment, including constant protection from personal security officers, daily visits from lawyers, frequent family visits, and access to a small fitness studio. His 12-square-metre cell was equipped with a writing table, a fridge, a TV, and a phone, though he laments the lack of aesthetic appeal and the feeble shower. Despite these comforts, Sarkozy emphasizes the psychological impact, describing the isolation as a time of reflection and spiritual growth.
He writes that prison gave him an opportunity to reconnect with God, meditate on personal humility, and reassess his relationships, especially with his family. Sarkozy also uses the book to comment on French politics, advocating for greater inclusion of the hard-right National Rally in the political mainstream while criticizing President Emmanuel Macron for revoking his Legion of Honour decoration.
Sarkozy’s narrative portrays him as dignified and wronged, asserting that the judiciary’s actions were politically motivated. Critics, particularly from left-leaning outlets like Mediapart, have called the memoir self-pitying and mendacious. Yet, the memoir has struck a chord with right-wing audiences, becoming a commercial success shortly after publication.
The former president positions the memoir as more than a personal account, framing it as a defense of his innocence and a broader reflection on justice, politics, and resilience in the face of adversity.
