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While he arrived at the Parisian detention facility on Tuesday, Nicolas Sarkozy published a declaration brimming with defiance via social media, writing, "This isn't a ex-leader of the republic entering prison today, it's an wrongfully accused individual." A court of appeal will eventually decide regarding the truthfulness of this assertion. However, regrettably for the ex-president, the turmoil and significance of his decline cannot be ignored.

The Legal Judgment

President of France between 2007 and 2012, Mr Sarkozy was judged culpable of illegal collaboration to secure illegal financing from the administration of the late Libyan dictator, Colonel Gaddafi. Sentenced to a half-decade incarceration, he has been recorded as the first former leader of an European Union nation to be imprisoned, and the first French leader since the dishonored head of Vichy France, Marshal Pétain. Within a nation where the elected president possesses a near-royal standing, this week's extraordinary spectacle was a defining instance.

Citizen Confidence and Judicial Responsibility

At a time when confidence in political systems in France has plummeted to the extent where warning signs are evident, it was also a salutary demonstration that the law applies to all. In a poll released this week, a majority of participants said that they thought a large number of elected officials were unethical, and almost 90% reported that many acted mainly out of self-interest. When convicting Mr Sarkozy and ordering that his sentence should commence promptly, the court official, Nathalie Gavarino, noted that she considered both the profoundly severe aspect of the crimes and the fact that they were "likely to undermine citizens' trust."

Judicial Threats

Such reflections might be considered unexceptional, notably because that Mr Sarkozy has in the past been found guilty in separate corruption cases. However the Sarkozy trial and its consequences have disturbingly laid bare the scope to which in France, as in different nations, the legal system is endangered by a increasingly common contempt for the judiciary and the try to influence of public opinion.

Following a populist playbook, an thorough and detailed judicial procedure has been falsely depicted by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a courtroom scheme and leftwing vendetta. Subsequent to the decision in September, the former president publicly criticized his punishment as invalid and decried the "animosity" with "no restraints" that allegedly motivated it. Since high-ranking leaders and supporters from the right and far right have filled the airwaves and traditional outlets with the identical arguments, Ms Gavarino has obtained multiple threats.

Public Response

Reassuringly, the public largely rejects this narrative. A survey after the ruling found clear majorities endorsing both the conduct of the legal case and his conviction. However the drama, and the blatant effort to undermine the reputation of the judicial system, was in all likelihood merely a dress rehearsal. In January, Marine Le Pen's court petition against a conviction for embezzlement of political funds will occur. Should she lose it, the conservative figure will be disqualified from participating in the future campaign.

Long-term Effects

In a polarised and mistrustful nation, that will be a perilous moment for the country's courts to manage. The former president might eventually exit before his own appeal, subsequent to a petition by his legal team. Yet the irresponsible and baseless attacks on the court system before, during and after his proceedings have created a negative standard.