In a historic and dramatic turn of events, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was incarcerated on Tuesday, marking the first time a former leader of an EU state has been jailed. Sarkozy, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, was convicted last month for his involvement in a scheme to secure illegal campaign funding from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The verdict, which carries a five-year prison sentence, has sent shockwaves through France and beyond. Sarkozy, 70, entered La Sante prison in Paris under heavy police escort, maintaining his innocence in a defiant social media post. ‘It is not a former president of the republic being jailed this morning, but an innocent man,’ he declared on X (formerly Twitter). ‘I have no doubt. The truth will prevail.’ The case, known as the ‘Libyan affair,’ centers on allegations that Sarkozy’s aides struck a deal with Gaddafi in 2005 to fund his 2007 presidential campaign. In return, Gaddafi allegedly sought assistance in rehabilitating his international image, tarnished by Libya’s involvement in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and other atrocities. Sarkozy’s imprisonment has drawn mixed reactions. While a recent poll by Elabe found that 60% of French citizens consider the sentence fair, supporters gathered outside his home, chanting ‘Free Nicolas’ and singing the national anthem. Sarkozy’s wife, singer Carla Bruni, stood by his side as he left for prison. The former president’s legal troubles have been mounting since his 2012 re-election defeat. He has faced multiple trials, including a previous conviction for graft, which led to house arrest and the revocation of his Legion of Honour. Despite his fall from grace, Sarkozy remains a significant figure in French politics, occasionally meeting with current President Emmanuel Macron. Macron defended a recent meeting with Sarkozy, calling it ‘normal, on a human level.’ Sarkozy’s incarceration is a stark reminder of the legal and ethical challenges facing political leaders, even after leaving office.