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Nicolas Sarkozy plans a memoir in the coming weeks titled Diary of a Prisoner, detailing the period endured behind bars.

The revelation was made just 11 days after Sarkozy was released as his appeal proceeds the court ruling on charges of unlawful coordination in a case to acquire presidential race money provided by the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi.

Time in Custody: Personal Reflections

“In prison visibility is limited, and activities are scarce,” he writes in a preview, indicating the account will focus on his musings while in isolation instead of extensive analysis of the overcrowded and struggling correctional facilities in the country.

“Silence escapes me, not present in that facility, where noise is endless commotion,” he states. “The racket is alas constant. Yet, similar to barren lands, one’s inner world grows stronger in prison.”

Freedom Plea: Recounting the Hardship

During his plea for freedom, Sarkozy participated remotely from his cell, describing his time inside as gruelling. He had told the court: “I wish to commend to all the prison staff, who are exceptionally humane, and who helped make this difficult experience tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“I didn’t expect that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s a trial I must endure. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, extremely tough. It has an impact every inmate as it’s exhausting.”

Historical Context

He, the ex-head of state from 2007 to 2012, was the first past president in the European Union and the first leader since WWII of France to experience jail.

Prior to imprisonment he mentioned he intended to spend the period to write a book.

Books in Prison

It remains unclear if he found the opportunity to read and critique the texts he took into prison: a biography of Jesus in two parts and Alexandre Dumas’s novel The Count of Monte Cristo, where a wrongfully accused individual is imprisoned then breaks out to take revenge.

Daily Reality

The former leader was placed in solitary confinement due to safety concerns in a room roughly 100 square feet with his own shower and toilet in the Paris jail in the city. Security personnel were stationed in an adjacent room.

Sources mentioned his diet consisted only yoghurts in prison due to concerns meals provided might have been spat on. He had facilities to prepare his own meals but refused this, according to reports. It is uncertain whether Sarkozy will write about his dietary choices.

Defense Viewpoint

Sarkozy’s lawyer, who saw him regularly each day throughout the jail term, informed the court his safety would improve out of prison rather than in custody. “He has faced death threats, listened to yells during nighttime plus rapid actions in a neighbouring cell as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Charges and Sentence

Sarkozy went to prison on 21 October when a French court sentenced him to a half-decade term for illegal collaboration related to a plan to acquire election financing for his presidential bid.

He disputes the charges and is contesting the ruling, and a fresh trial planned for the coming spring.