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Nicolas Sarkozy is preparing a memoir in the coming weeks titled A Prisoner’s Diary, detailing his time served in jail.

The announcement was made just 11 days following the ex-leader gained freedom as his appeal proceeds his conviction for unlawful coordination connected to efforts to acquire presidential race money linked to the leadership of the late Libyan dictator.

Prison Experience: Inner Thoughts

“In prison one sees little, and activities are scarce,” he writes in one passage, implying the book centers around his musings from isolation instead of extensive analysis regarding the overcrowded and troubled French prison system.

“I forget silence, which is missing in that facility, where one hears endless commotion,” he adds. “The racket persists relentlessly. Yet, similar to barren lands, inner life is strengthened behind bars.”

Court Appearance: Recounting the Hardship

While appealing for release, the former leader participated via screen from inside the facility, characterizing his incarceration as draining. He expressed in court: “I want to pay tribute those working in the jail, displaying remarkable compassion, and who have made this difficult experience tolerable – as it truly is one.”

“It never crossed my mind at this stage of life, I’d be in prison. It’s a hardship forced upon me. I confess it’s hard, extremely tough. It has an impact every inmate as it’s exhausting.”

Unprecedented Situation

He, who served as France’s president between 2007 and 2012, became the inaugural former head of an EU country and the initial post-WWII figure of France to serve time in prison.

Ahead of his incarceration he had said he intended to spend the period to write a book.

Cell Library

It is not certain if he found the opportunity to read and critique the volumes he had in his cell: a biography of Jesus in two parts plus the novel by Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo, a plot where a blameless person ends up incarcerated later flees to take revenge.

Daily Reality

The former leader was placed in isolation due to safety concerns in a space roughly 100 square feet including private facilities at La Santé prison in Paris. Guards occupied the next cell.

Sources mentioned that he consumed just yogurt during his stay due to concerns any food could have been tampered with. He had facilities for self-catering but refused this, based on unnamed sources. Unclear remains if the memoir includes meals during incarceration.

Lawyer’s Statements

His attorney, Christophe Ingrain each day during the incarceration, informed the court security would be better released rather than in custody. “He received threats against his life, heard shouts at night plus rapid actions in a neighbouring cell as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Case Background

Sarkozy went to prison last month when the judiciary sentenced him to a five-year sentence for illegal collaboration related to a plan to secure political donations for his presidential bid.

He disputes the charges and has appealed against the verdict, and a fresh trial planned for next spring.