🔗 Share this article The Former French President Set to Write Jail Diary Chronicling His 20 Days In Custody Nicolas Sarkozy is preparing a book this autumn titled Notes from a Cell, detailing his time endured in custody. The announcement came just 11 days following the ex-leader left prison while his appeal proceeds the court ruling related to criminal conspiracy regarding a scheme to acquire election campaign funds linked to the leadership of the late Libyan dictator. Prison Experience: Inner Thoughts “Behind bars one sees little, and activities are scarce,” he notes in one passage, indicating the memoir is more about his reflections from isolation as opposed to wider commentary on the packed and struggling French prison system. “I forget silence, which doesn’t exist at the prison, where one hears endless commotion,” he continues. “The din is alas constant. But, just like the desert, personal reflection grows stronger in prison.” Release Hearing: Sharing the Struggle During his plea for freedom, Sarkozy had appeared by video link from a room in prison, describing his time inside as draining. He expressed in court: “I wish to commend those working in the jail, showing great humanity, and who helped make this ordeal bearable – as it truly is one.” “I didn’t expect at this stage of life, I would end up incarcerated. It’s an ordeal I must endure. I admit it’s difficult, deeply straining. It has an impact on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.” Historical Context The former president, who served as France’s president for a five-year term, set a precedent as past president from the EU and the initial post-WWII figure of France to be incarcerated. Before entering jail he declared he intended to spend the period to write a book. Cell Library Unconfirmed is whether he had time to read and critique the texts he took into prison: a two-volume biography of Jesus plus the novel by Dumas the classic tale, in which a blameless person is imprisoned but escapes to exact retribution. Prison Conditions The former leader remained secluded for his own security in a room of about nine sq metres including private facilities in the Paris jail located in the capital. Security personnel occupied an adjacent room. It was stated that he had eaten just yogurt while inside due to concerns any food might have been spat on. Options were available to prepare his own meals but he turned this down, based on unnamed sources. It is uncertain whether Sarkozy will write about his dietary choices. Lawyer’s Statements The legal representative, Christophe Ingrain every day while he was in prison, stated during proceedings his safety would improve released than inside. “He received menacing messages, has heard screaming during nighttime and the urgent intervention in a neighbouring cell as a detainee harmed themselves.” Case Background His incarceration began in late October following a French court gave him five years in prison on conspiracy charges related to a plan to acquire election financing for his presidential bid. He disputes the charges and has appealed against the verdict, and a fresh trial planned for the coming spring.