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While he made his way at the Parisian detention facility on Tuesday, the former French leader published a declaration brimming with resistance via social media, stating, "This isn't a ex-leader of the republic facing incarceration today, but rather an wrongfully accused individual." The appeals judiciary will eventually give its view the accuracy of his claim. However, regrettably for Mr Sarkozy, the turmoil and importance of his fall cannot be dismissed.

The Guilty Verdict

President of France between 2007 and 2012, the former president was judged culpable of unlawful plotting to secure illegal financing from the administration of the deceased Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Given a half-decade incarceration, he has been recorded as the initial ex-head of an European Union nation to go behind bars, and the earliest French head of state since the shamed head of Vichy France, Philippe Pétain. Across France where the elected president enjoys a quasi-monarchical status, this week's remarkable event was a historic occasion.

National Faith and Legal Consequences

During a period when faith in political institutions in France has collapsed to the point where the lights are flashing red, it was also a instructive example that everyone is subject to the law. According to a survey published on Tuesday, a majority of participants indicated that they felt a majority of government figures were corrupt, and the vast majority said that many operated primarily out of personal gain. In sentencing Mr Sarkozy and directing that his prison term should start immediately, the judge, the judge, noted that she took into account both the extremely serious character of the offences and the fact that they were "potentially erode public confidence."

Courtroom Struggles

Those thoughts might be deemed typical, especially given that Mr Sarkozy has previously been found guilty in distinct bribery proceedings. But the Sarkozy trial and its fallout have alarmingly revealed the extent to which in France, as in other countries, the legal system is jeopardized by a increasingly common disdain for courts and the effort to control of the popular view.

Using divisive tactics, an thorough and detailed judicial procedure has been baselessly portrayed by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a judicial plot and leftwing vendetta. Following the ruling last month, the ex-leader effectively denounced his judgment as invalid and censured the "hatred" with "no restraints" that supposedly drove it. Since prominent officials and backers from the conservative and extremist have dominated media discussions and right-leaning media with the identical arguments, the judge has received various menaces.

Public Response

Encouragingly, the population largely rejects this narrative. Research following the judgment found clear majorities supporting both the conduct of the courtroom process and his punishment. Yet the spectacle, and the blatant effort to damage the credibility of the court system, was very likely merely a dress rehearsal. During winter, Marine Le Pen's appeal against a judgment for diversion of electoral finances will occur. Should she lose it, the political candidate will be excluded 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 handle. The former president may yet be released before his own appeal, following a request by his legal team. Yet the reckless and unfounded criticisms on the court system before, during and after his case have created a negative standard.