Former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, has been released from prison after a Paris court decided on Monday that he could remain free pending an appeal of his September criminal conspiracy conviction, reports CNN affiliate BFMTV.
Sarkozy was found guilty of participating in a plot to finance his 2007 presidential campaign with Libyan funds in exchange for diplomatic favors.
After his release, Sarkozy took to social media to thank those who had “supported” and “defended” him, assuring followers that the “truth will prevail” in his upcoming appeal.
“I will now prepare the appeal trial. My energy is focused solely on the single goal of proving my innocence,” he said.
Earlier on Monday, before leaving prison, Sarkozy addressed a court hearing via videolink, describing his 20 days behind bars as, “very hard.”
He also commended the prison staff, saying they had shown “an exceptional humanity which made this nightmare bearable.”
French magazine Le Point reported that during his nearly three-week imprisonment, Sarkozy refused to eat anything but yogurt, fearing other inmates might tamper with his food.
Prosecutors had requested his release under judicial control, with certain restrictions, including limits on whom he can contact.
The court barred him from leaving France and prohibited contact with individuals involved in his case, as well as the current French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, who faced public scrutiny for visiting Sarkozy in prison in October, according to BFMTV.
Before reporting to prison on October 21, Sarkozy posted on X that he was an “innocent man.” Following his conviction, he expressed outrage over the ruling.
“If they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison. But with my head held high,” he told journalists after his sentencing hearing, his voice boiling with anger.
Sarkozy also shared the three books he brought to prison, including two volumes of The Count of Monte Cristo and a biography of Jesus Christ.
During his stay, the former president was expected to be housed either in solitary confinement or in the so-called “VIP wing” of La Santé prison complex, reserved for inmates considered unsuitable for the general population due to safety concerns.
This includes politicians, former police officers, members of far-right groups, or prisoners tied to Islamist terror networks, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.
Cells in this wing are equipped with a metal bed and mattress, a small desk, a fridge, a cooking hob, a television, a shower, toilet, sink, and a fixed telephone line allowing prisoners to call authorized numbers.
Notable past occupants of the wing include Manuel Noriega, the former Panamanian dictator, who was held there after being extradited from the United States following the American invasion that ousted him.
