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As he arrived at La Santé prison this week, Nicolas Sarkozy published a statement brimming with opposition via social media, writing, "This isn't a ex-leader of the republic who is being jailed this morning, but rather an wrongfully accused individual." An appellate court is set to decide regarding the veracity of his claim. Yet sadly for the ex-president, the spectacle and importance of his downfall cannot be ignored.

The Guilty Verdict

President of France during the 2007-2012 term, Mr Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy to obtain illicit campaign funds from the administration of the former Libyan ruler, Colonel Gaddafi. Given a five-year prison term, he has been recorded as the initial ex-head of an EU country to be imprisoned, and the first French leader since the disgraced head of Vichy France, Marshal Pétain. In a country where the elected president holds a near-royal standing, this week's remarkable event was a historic occasion.

Citizen Confidence and Judicial Responsibility

At a time when trust in government bodies in France has collapsed to the point where the lights are flashing red, it was also a salutary demonstration that no one is above the law. As per a study published this week, over 65% of those surveyed stated that they thought a large number of politicians were unethical, and almost 90% claimed that most acted mainly out of individual benefit. While judging Mr Sarkozy and mandating that his prison term should start immediately, the judge, Nathalie Gavarino, said that she considered both the extremely serious character of the offences and the fact that they were "likely to undermine public confidence."

Legal Challenges

Those thoughts might be seen as ordinary, notably because that the ex-president has in the past been found guilty in separate corruption cases. But the former president's case and its consequences have alarmingly revealed the degree to which across the country, as in other countries, the legal system is endangered by a newly fashionable contempt for the judiciary and the try to influence of societal perspectives.

Following a populist playbook, an thorough and detailed court case has been baselessly portrayed by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a courtroom scheme and ideological revenge. Subsequent to the decision last month, the ex-leader openly condemned his sentence as invalid and condemned the "hatred" with "no boundaries" that allegedly motivated it. Since senior politicians and advocates from the traditional and radical have dominated media discussions and right-leaning media with the similar rhetoric, the judge has been subjected to numerous death threats.

Citizen Reaction

Encouragingly, the citizens does not appear to be buying it. A survey after the ruling found significant majorities endorsing both the proceedings of Mr Sarkozy's trial and his sentencing. However the drama, and the obvious try to weaken the standing of the court system, was most probably just a trial run. In January, the National Rally figure's court petition against a conviction for misuse of campaign money will be heard. If the appeal fails, the political candidate will be disqualified from participating in the upcoming election.

Long-term Effects

Across a fragmented and doubtful society, that will be a perilous moment for the national legal system to navigate. The former president may yet be released before his own appeal, subsequent to a petition by his attorneys. However the unfounded and damaging assaults on the legal system throughout his proceedings have set a damaging precedent.