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While he arrived at La Santé prison this week, the former French leader published a statement filled with resistance via social media, writing, "This isn't a ex-leader of the republic who is being jailed this morning, but rather an wrongfully accused individual." An appellate court will eventually give its view the veracity of that statement. Yet sadly for Mr Sarkozy, the turmoil and significance of his downfall cannot be dismissed.

The Guilty Verdict

President of France from 2007 to 2012, the former president was found guilty of criminal conspiracy to acquire prohibited donations from the regime of the former Libyan ruler, Colonel Gaddafi. Handed a five-year prison term, he has been recorded as the initial ex-head of an European Union nation to be imprisoned, and the first French leader since the disgraced head of Vichy France, Philippe Pétain. Within a nation where the democratically selected head of state possesses a quasi-monarchical status, Tuesday's unprecedented scene was a seminal moment.

Citizen Confidence and Legal Accountability

At a time when confidence in political systems in France has collapsed to the extent where the lights are flashing red, it was also a salutary demonstration that everyone is subject to the law. In a poll issued this week, over 65% of those surveyed said that they felt a majority of government figures were unethical, and the vast majority claimed that the majority behaved predominantly out of personal gain. When convicting the former president and ordering that his sentence should begin without delay, the presiding magistrate, Nathalie Gavarino, said that she considered both the exceptionally grave nature of the crimes and the fact that they were "could damage citizens' trust."

Legal Challenges

Those thoughts might be deemed typical, notably because that Mr Sarkozy has before been sentenced in distinct bribery proceedings. However the legal proceedings and its fallout have troublingly exposed the degree to which in France, as in various states, the rule of law is endangered by a newly fashionable disdain for courts and the effort to control of societal perspectives.

In Trumpian fashion, an exhaustive and meticulous legal process has been baselessly portrayed by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a legal conspiracy and ideological revenge. Following the ruling last month, the former president publicly criticized his sentence as unlawful and decried the "animosity" with "no boundaries" that supposedly drove it. Since high-ranking leaders and supporters from the right and far right have dominated media discussions and conservative press with the identical arguments, Ms Gavarino has obtained multiple threats.

Public Response

Reassuringly, the public does not appear to be buying it. A survey after the ruling found comfortable majorities backing both the conduct of the courtroom process and his conviction. However the turmoil, and the blatant effort to undermine the reputation of the legal system, was very likely only a preliminary test. Next year, the far-right leader's appeal against a judgment for misuse of campaign money will occur. If the appeal fails, the political candidate will be ruled out from competing in the future campaign.

Coming Consequences

Across a fragmented and doubtful society, that will be a dangerous time for the national legal system to handle. Mr Sarkozy might eventually exit ahead of his next legal challenge, following a request by his attorneys. Yet the unfounded and damaging assaults on the judicial framework before, during and after his proceedings have created a negative standard.