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Nicolas Sarkozy will soon publish a personal account in the coming weeks titled Diary of a Prisoner, chronicling his experience served behind bars.

The announcement came just 11 days after the ex-leader left prison as he appeals his conviction on charges of illegal collaboration connected to efforts to acquire political financing from the regime of Muammar Gaddafi.

Prison Experience: Personal Reflections

“Behind bars visibility is limited, and activities are scarce,” he reflects in a preview, suggesting the book is more about his reflections while in isolation instead of a broader observation of the overcrowded and crisis-hit jail system in France.

“Silence escapes me, which is missing at the prison, where one hears a lot to hear,” he adds. “The noise persists relentlessly. However, akin to empty spaces, personal reflection grows stronger behind bars.”

Release Hearing: Sharing the Struggle

While appealing for release, he was present via screen from inside the facility, characterizing his incarceration as gruelling. He had told the court: “I must acknowledge those working in the jail, showing great humanity, and who have made this ordeal bearable – as it truly is one.”

“I didn’t expect at this stage of life, I would end up incarcerated. It’s an ordeal forced upon me. I confess it’s hard, extremely tough. It has an impact on any prisoner as it’s exhausting.”

First of Its Kind

Sarkozy, who led the nation from 2007 to 2012, was the first former head of an EU country and the first leader since WWII from France to be incarcerated.

Prior to imprisonment he had said he planned to utilize the opportunity for authoring a memoir.

Reading Material

Unconfirmed is did he manage to go through the three books he took into prison: a life story of Jesus spanning two books plus the novel by Dumas the classic tale, where an innocent man is sentenced to jail then breaks out to seek vengeance.

Life in Confinement

He was placed in isolation for his own security in a space roughly 100 square feet featuring a personal bathroom in the Paris jail located in the capital. Security personnel occupied an adjacent room.

Reports indicated that he had eaten only yoghurts while inside because he feared meals provided might have been spat on. Options were available for self-catering but refused this, based on unnamed sources. Not known is whether Sarkozy will write about meals during incarceration.

Legal Perspective

Sarkozy’s lawyer, who saw him regularly daily during the incarceration, informed the court his safety would improve out of prison compared to inside. “There were death threats, has heard screaming after dark and emergency responses next door when a prisoner self-harmed.”

Case Background

His incarceration began in late October when the judiciary gave him five years in prison for illegal collaboration in connection with efforts to secure campaign funds for his presidential bid.

He denies wrongdoing challenging the decision, with a new trial is scheduled for early next year.