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While he was transported at La Santé prison on Tuesday, the former French leader posted a declaration filled with defiance via social media, writing, "This isn't a ex-leader of the nation entering prison today, it's an wrongfully accused individual." The appeals judiciary is set to rule on the truthfulness of this assertion. However, regrettably for Mr Sarkozy, the spectacle and significance of his fall cannot simply be wished away.

The Guilty Verdict

The French head of state during the 2007-2012 term, Mr Sarkozy was judged culpable of criminal conspiracy to secure illicit campaign funds from the regime of the late Libyan dictator, Colonel Gaddafi. Given a five-year prison term, he has become the initial ex-head of an European Union nation to be imprisoned, and the first French leader since the dishonored head of Vichy France, the Vichy leader. Across France where the chosen leader enjoys a near-royal standing, Tuesday's extraordinary spectacle was a seminal moment.

National Faith and Legal Consequences

At a time when faith in political institutions in France has collapsed to the degree where alarms are sounding, it was also a instructive example that the law applies to all. According to a survey released on Tuesday, a majority of participants said that they felt a large number of politicians were dishonest, and nearly nine out of 10 reported that the majority behaved predominantly out of individual benefit. When convicting Mr Sarkozy and ordering that his sentence should start immediately, the judge, the judicial authority, declared that she took into account both the extremely serious character of the crimes and the fact that they were "likely to undermine citizens' trust."

Courtroom Struggles

Those thoughts might be considered unexceptional, particularly since that the ex-president has in the past been sentenced in other graft trials. However the former president's case and its aftermath have disturbingly laid bare the scope to which in France, as in various states, the rule of law is endangered by a increasingly common contempt for the judiciary and the try to influence of societal perspectives.

Following a populist playbook, an exhaustive and meticulous judicial procedure has been baselessly portrayed by his backers as a legal conspiracy and political retaliation. Following the ruling last month, the former president openly condemned his judgment as illegal and censured the "hatred" with "no boundaries" that reportedly inspired it. As high-ranking leaders and advocates from the conservative and extremist have saturated public discourse and right-leaning media with the identical arguments, Ms Gavarino has received various menaces.

Citizen Reaction

Reassuringly, the public seems unconvinced. Research following the judgment found clear majorities backing both the handling of the courtroom process and his conviction. Yet the spectacle, and the obvious try to undermine the reputation of the legal system, was very likely merely a dress rehearsal. In January, the far-right leader's appeal against a judgment for misuse of campaign money will be heard. If the appeal fails, the far-right National Rally leader will be disqualified from participating in the upcoming election.

Long-term Effects

Within a divided and skeptical country, that will be a risky period for the French judiciary to handle. The former president might eventually exit ahead of his next legal challenge, subsequent to a petition by his lawyers. But the irresponsible and baseless attacks on the legal system at all stages of his case have created a negative standard.