Sarkozy describes his three weeks in prison: 'Gray dominated everything'

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy leaves after the verdict in his trial for illegal campaign financing from Libya, at a courthouse in Paris, on September 25, 2025. JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP

Grayness and solitude marked French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy's three weeks in prison, according to excerpts released on Saturday, December 6, from his upcoming book about his incarceration.

Sarkozy, 70, in October became the first president in the history of modern France to go to jail after his conviction of criminal conspiracy for allowing aides to seek to collect money for his 2007 presidential election campaign from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. He was handed a five-year sentence but was released with restrictions after serving 20 days, following an appeals court ruling that there was no flight risk.

Subscribers only

The day Sarkozy learned he was going to prison

Sarkozy describes his three weeks in prison: 'Gray dominated everything'

Other newsrooms on this story

Related reading

Sarkozy releases prison diaries about his 20 days behind bars

Sarkozy describes his prison stay and advises on appealing to the far right in…

Sarkozy to publish new memoir, 'Diary of a Prisoner,' ahead of appeal

Nicolas Sarkozy's appeal trial to start on March 16

Sarkozy learns start date of prison term, details not made public

Former French president Sarkozy to be freed from prison after three weeks