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While he made his way at La Santé prison on Tuesday, Nicolas Sarkozy shared a declaration filled with opposition via social media, writing, "It's not a ex-leader of the nation who is being jailed today, it's an wrongfully accused individual." The appeals judiciary is set to decide regarding the veracity of that statement. But unfortunately for the ex-president, the drama and importance of his fall cannot be ignored.

The Guilty Verdict

President of France between 2007 and 2012, the former president was judged culpable of criminal conspiracy to obtain prohibited donations from the administration of the deceased Libyan leader, the Libyan strongman. Sentenced to a five-year prison term, he has emerged as the first former leader of an EU country to go behind bars, and the first French leader since the disgraced head of the Vichy regime, Philippe Pétain. In a country where the chosen leader enjoys a quasi-monarchical status, Tuesday's extraordinary spectacle was a defining instance.

National Faith and Legal Accountability

During a period when confidence in political systems in France has plummeted to the degree where alarms are sounding, it was also a instructive example that everyone is subject to the law. According to a survey issued recently, two-thirds of respondents indicated that they believed a most of politicians were dishonest, and almost 90% reported that most operated primarily out of personal gain. In sentencing Mr Sarkozy and ordering that his incarceration should begin without delay, the court official, the judicial authority, said that she factored in both the profoundly severe aspect of the offences and the fact that they were "could damage public confidence."

Judicial Threats

Such reflections might be deemed typical, particularly since that the ex-president has before been found guilty in other graft trials. But the legal proceedings and its fallout have alarmingly revealed the degree to which within the nation, as in different nations, the judicial framework is jeopardized by a increasingly common disdain for courts and the attempted manipulation of public opinion.

Following a populist playbook, an comprehensive and precise legal process has been falsely depicted by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a judicial plot and political retaliation. Subsequent to the decision last month, the former president effectively denounced his judgment as unlawful and condemned the "hatred" with "no boundaries" that supposedly drove it. While prominent officials and advocates from the conservative and extremist have filled the airwaves and traditional outlets with the same talking points, the judicial figure has obtained multiple threats.

Citizen Reaction

Hearteningly, the citizens seems unconvinced. A survey after the ruling found significant majorities endorsing both the proceedings of the legal case and his conviction. Yet the drama, 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 court petition against a conviction for embezzlement of political funds will occur. If unsuccessful, the political candidate will be excluded from participating in the upcoming election.

Long-term Effects

Across a fragmented and doubtful society, that will be a dangerous time for the country's courts to manage. Mr Sarkozy may yet be released prior to his appeal hearing, subsequent to a petition by his legal team. However the irresponsible and baseless attacks on the judicial framework throughout his case have set a damaging precedent.