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As he arrived at the Parisian detention facility on Tuesday, Nicolas Sarkozy posted a declaration overflowing with defiance via social media, asserting, "This isn't a ex-leader of the nation facing incarceration this morning, it's an wrongfully accused individual." A court of appeal is set to decide regarding the veracity of this assertion. But unfortunately for Mr Sarkozy, the turmoil and importance of his downfall cannot be ignored.

The Legal Judgment

France's leader between 2007 and 2012, Mr Sarkozy was found guilty of illegal collaboration to secure illegal financing from the government of the deceased Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Given a five-year prison term, he has become the first former leader of an European Union nation to enter prison, and the earliest French head of state since the disgraced head of the Vichy regime, Philippe Pétain. Within a nation where the chosen leader possesses a almost king-like position, the recent unprecedented scene was a defining instance.

National Faith and Legal Accountability

At a time when faith in political institutions in France has declined drastically to the extent where alarms are sounding, it was also a instructive example that the law applies to all. As per a study released this week, a majority of participants said that they believed a large number of politicians were corrupt, and nearly nine out of 10 reported that the majority operated primarily out of individual benefit. When convicting the former president and mandating that his prison term should commence promptly, the court official, the judicial authority, said that she took into account both the extremely serious character of the violations and the fact that they were "potentially erode citizens' trust."

Courtroom Struggles

Those thoughts might be considered unexceptional, notably because that the ex-president has in the past been found guilty in separate corruption cases. However the former president's case and its fallout have troublingly exposed the scope to which in France, as in various states, the rule of law is threatened by a newly fashionable contempt for the judiciary and the attempted manipulation of the popular view.

Using divisive tactics, an thorough and detailed legal process has been baselessly portrayed by his backers as a courtroom scheme and ideological revenge. Following the ruling recently, the former president effectively denounced his punishment as unlawful and condemned the "animosity" with "no limits" that reportedly inspired it. Since high-ranking leaders and backers from the traditional and radical have filled the airwaves and traditional outlets with the same talking points, the judicial figure has received multiple threats.

Societal Feedback

Reassuringly, the public seems unconvinced. Research following the judgment found clear majorities supporting both the proceedings of Mr Sarkozy's trial and his sentencing. But the drama, and the obvious try to undermine the reputation of the judicial system, was in all likelihood merely a dress rehearsal. During winter, the far-right leader's appeal against a guilty verdict for misuse of campaign money will take place. 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 dangerous time for the country's courts to handle. The former president might eventually exit ahead of his next legal challenge, following a request by his legal team. Yet the irresponsible and baseless attacks on the judicial framework before, during and after his case have created a negative standard.