Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin to Visit Nicolas Sarkozy in Prison Amidst Political Support

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to begin a five-year prison sentence on October 21 at the Santé prison in Paris, following his conviction related to a Libyan funding scheme in his 2007 presidential campaign. Despite his ongoing appeal and presumed innocence until the final ruling, Sarkozy faces incarceration under extraordinary circumstances for a former head of state.

Gérald Darmanin, France's Minister of Justice, announced he will personally visit Sarkozy in prison to monitor his security conditions and well-being. Darmanin emphasized that as Justice Minister he has the authority to visit any inmate and stressed the importance of protecting the safety of a former president behind bars. While expressing personal sadness and recalling his own experience visiting his father in prison, Darmanin distinguished his professional responsibility from personal feelings, noting he does not necessarily agree with all of Sarkozy's comments, including controversial comparisons of his case to Alfred Dreyfus.

Darmanin also clarified that his prison visit should not be mistaken for political support, as he has publicly backed the magistrates investigating Sarkozy's case. In parallel, four close political allies and former RPR members—François Baroin, Philippe Briand, Christian Jacob, and Renaud Muselier—published an open letter showing solidarity with Sarkozy ahead of his incarceration.

The Justice Minister's visit, combined with the public declarations of support by loyalists, underscore the emotional and political complexities surrounding Sarkozy's imprisonment in France. Darmanin acknowledged the anguish faced by Sarkozy's family and the delicate nature of managing justice in such a high-profile matter.