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Nicolas Sarkozy is preparing a personal account next month named Diary of a Prisoner, detailing the period spent behind bars.

The revelation emerged just 11 days following the ex-leader was released while his appeal proceeds his conviction for illegal collaboration regarding a scheme to secure presidential race money from the regime of former Libyan leader.

Life Behind Bars: Inner Thoughts

“Inside jail one sees little, and activities are scarce,” he reflects in an extract, indicating the book is more about his thoughts while in seclusion as opposed to extensive analysis regarding the packed and crisis-hit French prison system.

“I forget silence, not present in that facility, where noise is endless commotion,” he states. “The noise unfortunately never stops. But, just like the desert, one’s inner world grows stronger in prison.”

Freedom Plea: Describing the Ordeal

During his plea for freedom, he was present via screen from a room in prison, describing his time inside as exhausting. He stated to the judge: “I must acknowledge to all the prison staff, who are exceptionally humane, easing this nightmare tolerable – as it truly is one.”

“I didn’t expect that in my seventies, I’d find myself behind bars. It’s a hardship forced upon me. I confess it’s hard, it’s very hard. It has an impact on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.”

Unprecedented Situation

The former president, who led the nation between 2007 and 2012, became the inaugural ex-leader from the EU and the first leader since WWII of France to experience jail.

Ahead of his incarceration he mentioned he planned to utilize the opportunity to compose an account.

Books in Prison

Unconfirmed is if he found the opportunity to read and critique the three books he brought with him: a biography of Jesus in two parts plus the novel by Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo, in which a wrongfully accused individual is imprisoned then breaks out to take revenge.

Life in Confinement

Sarkozy was held in solitary confinement for his own security in a room roughly 100 square feet including private facilities in the Paris jail in the city. Security personnel stayed in a neighbouring cell.

Reports indicated his diet consisted only yoghurts while inside worried that meals provided may have been contaminated. He had facilities to cook for himself but he turned this down, according to reports. Unclear remains if he will detail meals during incarceration.

Defense Viewpoint

His attorney, Christophe Ingrain every day throughout the jail term, stated during proceedings security would be better outside jail compared to inside. “There were menacing messages, listened to yells at night and emergency responses in a neighbouring cell when a prisoner self-harmed.”

Case Background

Sarkozy went to prison in late October when a French court gave him five years in prison for illegal collaboration related to a plan to secure campaign funds for his presidential bid.

He disputes the charges and has appealed against the verdict, with a new trial planned for the coming spring.