Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin Visits Incarcerated Former President Nicolas Sarkozy Amid Controversy

On October 29, 2025, Gérald Darmanin, France's Minister of Justice, visited former President Nicolas Sarkozy at the prison de la Santé where Sarkozy has been incarcerated since October 21 after receiving a five-year sentence for illegal campaign financing in 2007. The visit, lasting approximately 45 minutes and held in the presence of the prison director, sparked significant debate about the separation of powers and judicial independence.

Darmanin justified his visit by emphasizing his role and right as Justice Minister to oversee prison conditions and ensure the safety of inmates, underscoring that this action did not interfere with judicial independence. Sarkozy, who is under special security measures due to threats against him, has appealed his conviction and maintains his innocence. He has also filed a request for release, which will be reviewed by the judiciary in the coming weeks.

However, the visit drew sharp criticism from Rémy Heitz, France's Prosecutor General, who warned that such contact could threaten the serenity of judicial proceedings. Political repercussions also followed, with the left condemning President Emmanuel Macron's earlier discreet meeting with Sarkozy just before his incarceration, deeming it a breach of institutional integrity. Macron defended that meeting as a "normal human gesture" and reiterated his commitment to the independence of the judiciary.

This development marks a significant moment in France's political and judicial landscape, highlighting tensions between executive gestures and judicial processes involving a former head of state.