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'Welcome to Hell'! Former President Sarkozy publishes book about 20 days in prison: Hard mattress, 'muddy cattle', washing and inhumane violence
2025-12-10 17:40:59 / BOTA
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy's new book, "Diary of a Prisoner," was published in France today, revealing how the former president experienced his 20 days in prison at La Santé in Paris, where he was sent on charges of illegally financing his 2007 election campaign with money from Libya and the late former president Muammar Gaddafi.
In his 216-page book, Sarkozy describes the prison as a “grey world of inhuman violence,” while insisting on his complete innocence. Although he was held in solitary confinement for security reasons, the conditions he describes reveal, as he writes, a “harsh” and “deafening” place.
“Like a cheap hotel – except for the armored door and bars”
The former president writes that his cell resembled a "cheap hotel," with a hard mattress, a plastic pillow, and a shower that produced a "weak stream of water" before closing again as if on a timer.
Opening the window on the first day revealed a prisoner banging the bars relentlessly with a metal object.
"The atmosphere was threatening. Welcome to hell," he notes.
Sarkozy says he refused the prison food – which he describes as small plastic portions with a “muddy baguette” – and chose to survive almost exclusively on dairy products, cereals, water and juices. Physical exercise was limited to an hour a day in a small gym with a simple running track.
At the same time, he describes his routine in detail:
"Waking up early, making the bed, washing, shaving, dressing properly. No pajamas, no negligence."
Political positions from within the cell
In the book, Sarkozy reiterates that he is "completely innocent" and declares his willingness to continue the fight to prove this:
"As long as I have breath in my body, I will fight with all my strength."
He also makes political interventions on the future of his party, the Republicans, arguing that they should seek bridges with far-right voters.
He also reveals that he spoke on the phone from prison with Marine Le Pen, noting that her party “does not pose a threat to Democracy”, although – as he writes – there are figures in the National Rally who “remain problematic”.
The former president also refers to his relationship with Emmanuel Macron. He claims that the French president informed him of potential security problems at La Santé and offered him a transfer, which Sarkozy refused.
Instead, two police officers were placed in an adjacent cell for constant guard. The breakdown in their relationship, according to Sarkozy, came later, when Macron failed to intervene to prevent the removal of the Legion of Honor.
The former president was released on parole after 20 days in jail and will serve his sentence at home, with electronic monitoring or other arrangements determined by a judge. His appeal against the sentence is scheduled to be heard from March 16 to June 3, 2026.
The book is being published by Fayard, a publishing house owned by billionaire Vincent Bolloré, and is expected to be one of the best-selling titles of the 2025 holiday season.
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