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While he arrived at the Parisian detention facility this week, the former French leader shared a message filled with defiance via social media, writing, "It's not a ex-leader of the nation facing incarceration today, but rather an innocent man." An appellate court will eventually rule on the veracity of his claim. However, regrettably for the ex-president, the drama and significance of his fall cannot be ignored.

The Guilty Verdict

President of France between 2007 and 2012, the former president was found guilty of unlawful plotting to obtain illegal financing from the government of the late Libyan dictator, the Libyan strongman. Given a five-year prison term, he has emerged as the pioneering past president of an EU country to go behind bars, and the initial French president since the dishonored head of the Vichy regime, Philippe Pétain. In a country where the democratically selected head of state possesses a quasi-monarchical status, this week's unprecedented scene was a historic occasion.

National Faith and Legal Accountability

In an era when confidence in political systems in France has plummeted to the degree where alarms are sounding, it was also a instructive example that no one is above the law. As per a study released this week, two-thirds of respondents said that they believed a most of government figures were unethical, and almost 90% claimed that the majority behaved predominantly out of personal gain. While judging Mr Sarkozy and ordering that his incarceration should commence promptly, the judge, the judicial authority, noted that she took into account both the exceptionally grave nature of the violations and the fact that they were "likely to undermine the people's faith."

Courtroom Struggles

These considerations might be considered unexceptional, especially given that Mr Sarkozy has in the past been found guilty in other graft trials. But the Sarkozy trial and its consequences have disturbingly laid bare the degree to which in France, as in various states, the judicial framework is jeopardized by a newly fashionable disrespect toward legal institutions and the try to influence of public opinion.

Following a populist playbook, an thorough and detailed court case has been groundlessly presented by his backers as a judicial plot and ideological revenge. Following the ruling recently, the former president openly condemned his punishment as invalid and condemned the "hostility" with "no boundaries" that reportedly inspired it. As high-ranking leaders and advocates from the right and far right have saturated public discourse and conservative press with the similar rhetoric, the judicial figure has obtained various menaces.

Public Response

Encouragingly, the public largely rejects this narrative. A survey after the ruling found clear majorities supporting both the proceedings of Mr Sarkozy's trial and his punishment. But the drama, and the blatant effort to weaken the standing of the legal system, was most probably merely a dress rehearsal. In January, the far-right leader's legal challenge against a guilty verdict for misuse of campaign money will take place. If the appeal fails, the far-right National Rally leader will be disqualified from participating in the upcoming election.

Long-term Effects

Within a divided and skeptical country, that will be a dangerous time for the country's courts to manage. The former president may yet be released prior to his appeal hearing, after an application by his attorneys. However the reckless and unfounded criticisms on the court system at all stages of his proceedings have created a negative standard.