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While he was transported at La Santé prison this week, the former French leader shared a statement brimming with opposition via social media, writing, "This isn't a former president of the republic who is being jailed this morning, it's an wrongfully accused individual." An appellate court will eventually give its view the accuracy of this assertion. But unfortunately for the ex-president, the drama and importance of his fall cannot be dismissed.

The Conviction

France's leader from 2007 to 2012, Mr Sarkozy was convicted of illegal collaboration to secure illegal financing from the regime of the former Libyan ruler, Colonel Gaddafi. Sentenced to a five-year sentence, he has been recorded as the pioneering past president of an EU member state to enter prison, and the initial French president since the shamed head of Vichy France, Philippe Pétain. Within a nation where the elected president possesses a quasi-monarchical status, Tuesday's remarkable event was a seminal moment.

National Faith and Legal Consequences

During a period when faith in political institutions in France has plummeted to the degree where alarms are sounding, it was also a instructive example that no one is above the law. According to a survey published this week, over 65% of those surveyed said that they believed a most of elected officials were dishonest, and nearly nine out of 10 said that the majority behaved predominantly out of self-interest. When convicting Mr Sarkozy and mandating that his prison term should begin without delay, the presiding magistrate, the judge, noted that she took into account both the extremely serious character of the offences and the fact that they were "likely to undermine the people's faith."

Courtroom Struggles

These considerations might be seen as ordinary, notably because that Mr Sarkozy has before been convicted in separate corruption cases. However the legal proceedings and its consequences have alarmingly revealed the scope to which across the country, as in other countries, the judicial framework is jeopardized by a increasingly common contempt for the judiciary and the effort to control of the popular view.

Following a populist playbook, an comprehensive and precise judicial procedure has been groundlessly presented by his backers as a judicial plot and ideological revenge. After the verdict last month, the ex-leader publicly criticized his judgment as unlawful and condemned the "hatred" with "no limits" that supposedly drove it. While prominent officials and backers from the right and far right have dominated media discussions and right-leaning media with the same talking points, Ms Gavarino has obtained various menaces.

Citizen Reaction

Encouragingly, the public seems unconvinced. A post-verdict poll found significant majorities backing both the conduct of the courtroom process and his punishment. Yet the turmoil, and the obvious try to weaken the standing of the legal system, was very likely only a preliminary test. During winter, the National Rally figure's appeal against a conviction for embezzlement of political funds will be heard. Should she lose it, the conservative figure will be ruled out from running in the upcoming election.

Future Implications

Across a fragmented and doubtful society, that will be a risky period for the country's courts to navigate. The former president might eventually exit prior to his appeal hearing, following a request by his lawyers. But the irresponsible and baseless attacks on the legal system before, during and after his trial have set a damaging precedent.