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While he was transported at the Parisian detention facility this week, the former French leader published a message brimming with opposition via social media, writing, "This isn't a former president of the republic entering prison today, but rather an wrongfully accused individual." The appeals judiciary will in time give its view the veracity of his claim. But unfortunately for Mr Sarkozy, the turmoil and importance of his fall cannot be dismissed.

The Conviction

France's leader from 2007 to 2012, the former president was convicted of unlawful plotting to secure prohibited donations from the administration of the deceased Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Sentenced to a half-decade incarceration, he has been recorded as the initial ex-head of an EU country to enter prison, and the first French leader since the disgraced head of the Vichy regime, Marshal Pétain. In a country where the elected president enjoys a near-royal standing, Tuesday's remarkable event was a defining instance.

Public Trust and Legal Consequences

During a period when trust in government bodies in France has collapsed to the extent where the lights are flashing red, it was also a salutary demonstration that no one is above the law. In a poll published recently, over 65% of those surveyed indicated that they felt a large number of elected officials were dishonest, and the vast majority reported that most acted mainly out of individual benefit. While judging Mr Sarkozy and ordering that his sentence should start immediately, the judge, Nathalie Gavarino, said that she considered both the extremely serious character of the violations and the fact that they were "potentially erode the people's faith."

Courtroom Struggles

Those thoughts might be seen as ordinary, particularly since that the ex-president has previously been found guilty in distinct bribery proceedings. However the former president's case and its aftermath have troublingly exposed the scope to which in France, as in other countries, the rule of law is endangered by a newly fashionable contempt for the judiciary and the attempted manipulation of societal perspectives.

In Trumpian fashion, an thorough and detailed judicial procedure has been baselessly portrayed by the former president's allies as a judicial plot and political retaliation. After the verdict in September, the former president effectively denounced his judgment as illegal and decried the "hatred" with "no boundaries" that supposedly drove it. As senior politicians and supporters from the right and far right have filled the airwaves and right-leaning media with the identical arguments, the judge has received numerous death threats.

Public Response

Hearteningly, the population does not appear to be buying it. A post-verdict poll found significant majorities endorsing both the handling of the courtroom process and his sentencing. But the turmoil, and the obvious try to undermine the reputation of the court system, was most probably just a trial run. In January, Marine Le Pen's appeal against a conviction for misuse of campaign money will occur. If the appeal fails, the political candidate will be ruled out from participating in the upcoming election.

Long-term Effects

Within a divided and skeptical country, that will be a risky period for the national legal system to navigate. The former president might eventually exit before his own appeal, after an application by his lawyers. But the reckless and unfounded criticisms on the legal system before, during and after his case have established a harmful example.