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While he made his way at the Parisian detention facility on Tuesday, the former French leader shared a declaration overflowing with opposition via social media, writing, "It's not a former president of the republic facing incarceration today, but rather an innocent man." A court of appeal is set to decide regarding the veracity of this assertion. However, regrettably for Mr Sarkozy, the turmoil and importance of his decline cannot be dismissed.

The Guilty Verdict

President of France between 2007 and 2012, Mr Sarkozy was judged culpable of unlawful plotting to acquire prohibited donations from the regime of the late Libyan dictator, Colonel Gaddafi. Sentenced to a five-year sentence, he has become the first former leader of an EU member state to enter prison, and the first French leader since the dishonored head of Vichy France, the Vichy leader. In a country where the elected president enjoys a almost king-like position, this week's unprecedented scene was a historic occasion.

Public Trust and Legal Consequences

At a time when confidence in political systems in France has collapsed to the point where warning signs are evident, it was also a sobering reminder that everyone is subject to the law. According to a survey published recently, a majority of participants indicated that they believed a majority of elected officials were unethical, and nearly nine out of 10 said that many operated primarily out of personal gain. While judging Mr Sarkozy and ordering that his incarceration should commence promptly, the presiding magistrate, the judicial authority, said that she considered both the profoundly severe aspect of the offences and the fact that they were "likely to undermine public confidence."

Courtroom Struggles

These considerations might be considered unexceptional, especially given that Mr Sarkozy has before been sentenced in separate corruption cases. But the Sarkozy trial and its consequences have troublingly exposed the scope to which within the nation, as in other countries, the judicial framework is endangered by a recently popular disrespect toward legal institutions and the effort to control of public opinion.

Using divisive tactics, an exhaustive and meticulous court case has been falsely depicted by his backers as a legal conspiracy and leftwing vendetta. Following the ruling last month, the ex-leader publicly criticized his punishment as illegal and decried the "animosity" with "no boundaries" that supposedly drove it. Since senior politicians and supporters from the traditional and radical have filled the airwaves and conservative press with the same talking points, the judicial figure has been subjected to various menaces.

Citizen Reaction

Encouragingly, the public does not appear to be buying it. A post-verdict poll found significant majorities backing both the handling of the legal case and his sentencing. But the drama, and the blatant effort to undermine the reputation of the court system, was very likely just a trial run. In January, the National Rally figure's court petition against a conviction for embezzlement of political funds will occur. Should she lose it, the far-right National Rally leader will be disqualified from participating in the future campaign.

Coming Consequences

In a polarised and mistrustful nation, that will be a dangerous time for the national legal system to navigate. The former president could still be freed prior to his appeal hearing, following a request by his attorneys. Yet the unfounded and damaging assaults on the legal system throughout his proceedings have set a damaging precedent.